Treatment age and neurocognitive outcomes following proton beam radiotherapy for pediatric low- and intermediate-grade gliomas

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 Aug;68(8):e29096. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29096. Epub 2021 May 21.

Abstract

The relationship between age and neurocognitive functioning following proton beam radiotherapy (PRT) in low- and intermediate-grade gliomas (LIGG) has yet to be examined. Eighteen LIGG patients treated with PRT were prospectively enrolled and received annual neurocognitive evaluations of perceptual/verbal reasoning, working memory, and processing speed postradiotherapy. The median age at diagnosis was 8.2 years (range 1.0-14.7) and the median age at PRT was 9.9 years (range 4.2-17.0). Patients' neurocognitive performance did not change on any measure following PRT (p ≥ .142). We did not observe significant changes in cognitive function over time among a small group of LIGG patients treated with PRT.

Keywords: cognition; low-grade glioma; pediatric brain tumor; proton radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Brain Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition*
  • Craniospinal Irradiation*
  • Glioma* / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Proton Therapy*