Effects of radiation therapy on neuropsychological functioning in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1989 Apr;52(4):488-92. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.52.4.488.

Abstract

Sixteen patients who had a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with radiation therapy were followed up after a median duration of 5.5 years and given a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results were compared with a comparable group of newly diagnosed NPC patients awaiting radiation therapy. The irradiated group was significantly poorer in overall IQ, non-verbal memory recall, and reported a substantially greater number of memory related complaints. These results contrast with the complacent general assumption that radiation therapy has a negligible effect on adult functioning.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intelligence / radiation effects
  • Mental Recall / radiation effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychomotor Performance / radiation effects
  • Radiation Injuries / psychology*
  • Reaction Time / radiation effects
  • Temporal Lobe / radiation effects*