Identifying early diffusion imaging biomarkers of regional white matter injury as indicators of executive function decline following brain radiotherapy: A prospective clinical trial in primary brain tumor patients

Abstract Purpose Diaschisis of cerebrocerebellar loops contributes to cognitive and motor deficits in pediatric cerebellar brain tumor survivors. We used a cerebellar white matter atlas and hypothesized that lesion symptom mapping may reveal the critical lesions of cerebellar tracts. Methods We examined 31 long-term survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors (13 pilocytic astrocytoma, 18 medulloblastoma). Patients underwent neuronal imaging, examination for ataxia, fine motor and cognitive function, planning abilities, and executive function. Individual consolidated cerebellar lesions were drawn manually onto patients’ individual MRI and normalized into Montreal Neurologic Institute (MNI) space for further analysis with voxel-based lesion symptom mapping. Results Lesion symptom mapping linked deficits of motor function to the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP), deep cerebellar nuclei (interposed nucleus (IN), fastigial nucleus (FN), ventromedial dentate nucleus (DN)), and inferior vermis (VIIIa, VIIIb, IX, X). Statistical maps of deficits of intelligence and executive function mapped with minor variations to the same cerebellar structures. Conclusion We identified lesions to the SCP next to deep cerebellar nuclei as critical for limiting both motor and cognitive function in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors. Future strategies safeguarding motor and cognitive function will have to identify patients preoperatively at risk for damage to these critical structures and adapt multimodal therapeutic options accordingly.

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Swallowing assessment in primary brain tumor patients with dysphagia

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.44.10.1927 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 44 (10) ◽

pp. 1927-1927 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

H. B. Newton ◽

C. Newton ◽

D. Pearl ◽

T. Davidson

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumor ◽

Primary Brain Tumor ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Swallowing Assessment

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Primary brain tumor patients admitted to a US intensive care unit: a descriptive analysis

CNS Oncology ◽

10.2217/cns-2021-0009 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. CNS77

Author(s):

Jennifer H Kang ◽

Christa B Swisher ◽

Evan D Buckley ◽

James E Herndon ◽

Eric S Lipp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Brain Tumor ◽

Hematological Malignancies ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Primary Brain Tumor ◽

Icu Mortality ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Common Indication ◽

Better Than

Purpose: To describe our population of primary brain tumor (PBT) patients, a subgroup of cancer patients whose intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes are understudied. Methods: Retrospective analysis of PBT patients admitted to an ICU between 2013 to 2018 for an unplanned need. Using descriptive analyses, we characterized our population and their outcomes. Results: Fifty-nine PBT patients were analyzed. ICU mortality was 19% (11/59). The most common indication for admission was seizures (n = 16, 27%). Conclusion: Our ICU mortality of PBT patients was comparable to other solid tumor patients and the general ICU population and better than patients with hematological malignancies. Further study of a larger population would inform guidelines for triaging PBT patients who would most benefit from ICU-level care.

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QLIF-41. UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS: IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP WITH FEAR OF DEATH?

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/nox168.849 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (suppl_6) ◽

pp. vi210-vi210

Author(s):

Ashlee Loughan ◽

Sarah Braun

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumor ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Primary Brain Tumor ◽

Fear Of Death ◽

Tumor Patients

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Gender difference in relation to depression and quality of life among patients with a primary brain tumor

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.05.008 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 194-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Arja Mainio ◽

Helinä Hakko ◽

Asko Niemelä ◽

John Koivukangas ◽

Pirkko Räsänen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Brain Tumor ◽

Functional Status ◽

Primary Brain Tumor ◽

Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

The Relationship ◽

Depressive Patients ◽

Performance Scale

AbstractObjective. –We studied the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) as well as functional status in primary brain tumor patients at recurrent measurements. Differences in QOL between depressive and non-depressive samples by gender were controlled for tumor characteristics and patients' psychosocial factors.Materials and methods. –The data consisted of 77 patients with a primary brain tumor, 30 males and 47 females. Depression of the patients was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Crown-Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI), functional status by Karnofsky Performance scale (KPS) and QOL by Sintonen's 15D before tumor operation as well as at 3 months and at 1 year from surgical operation of the tumor.Results.The level of QOL in females was lower compared to that of males. Depression was the main predictor for worse QOL in the patients at all measurements. Depressive patients with a benign brain tumor had significantly worse QOL versus non-depressive ones.Discussion and conclusion. –Decreased QOL was strongly related to depression, especially among patients with a benign brain tumor. Further studies are needed to find whether sufficient depression therapy improves the QOL of patients.

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