Abstract
Sixty-one long-term survivors, treated for brain tumors in childhood, were evaluated in term of neurological impairments, disability, and handicap. Thirty-eight patients (pts) (62%) had at least one impairment. Visual impairment was detected in 14 pts (24%), associated with recurrence (p = .012). Thirty-four patients (56%) had motor impairment, associated with sex (female) in irradiated patients; 13 (21%) had epilepsy, associated with supratentorial tumor site (p = .001). The same number of patients had brain atrophy; risk factors were hydrocephalus at diagnosis and perioperative complications. Sixteen patients (30%) had IQ score < 80, associated with young age at first treatment (p = .006) and recurrence (p = .043). Twenty-seven out of 61 of our patients (44%) were disabled: 12 mildly, 14 moderately, and 1 severely. Epilepsy was the most important risk factor for disability. Cognitive impairment, motor impairment, and epilepsy were associated with employment (43%); cognitive impairment was also associated with education.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Atrophy
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Brain / diagnostic imaging
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Brain / pathology
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Brain / radiation effects
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Brain Damage, Chronic / epidemiology
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Brain Damage, Chronic / etiology*
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Brain Neoplasms / complications
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Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Brain Neoplasms / surgery
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Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
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Calcinosis / epidemiology
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Calcinosis / etiology
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Cisplatin / administration & dosage
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Cisplatin / adverse effects
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Cranial Irradiation / adverse effects
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Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
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Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
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Disabled Children / psychology
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Epilepsy / epidemiology
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Epilepsy / etiology
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Etoposide / administration & dosage
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Etoposide / adverse effects
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Female
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Humans
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Hydrocephalus / epidemiology
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Hydrocephalus / etiology
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Infant
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Intellectual Disability / epidemiology
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Intellectual Disability / etiology
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Learning Disabilities / epidemiology
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Learning Disabilities / etiology
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Lomustine / administration & dosage
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Lomustine / adverse effects
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Methotrexate / administration & dosage
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Methotrexate / adverse effects
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Movement Disorders / epidemiology
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Movement Disorders / etiology
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Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
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Prevalence
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Procarbazine / administration & dosage
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Procarbazine / adverse effects
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Radiation Injuries / epidemiology
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Radiation Injuries / etiology
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Slovenia / epidemiology
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Survivors* / psychology
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Unemployment / statistics & numerical data
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Vincristine / administration & dosage
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Vincristine / adverse effects
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Vision Disorders / epidemiology
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Vision Disorders / etiology
Substances
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Procarbazine
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Vincristine
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Etoposide
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Lomustine
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Cyclophosphamide
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Cisplatin
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Methotrexate