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A prospective study on neurocognitive effects after primary radiotherapy in high-grade glioma patients

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Abstract

Background

Neurocognition is a very important aspect of a brain tumor patient’s quality of life following radiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to assess neurocognitive functions of patients diagnosed with high-grade gliomas undergoing radiotherapy by using the NeuroCogFx® test and to examine relevant dose/volume parameters as well as patient characteristics potentially influencing the neurological baseline status and subsequent outcome.

Methods

The cohort consisted of 44 astrocytoma World Health Organization grade III/IV patients. The NeuroCogFx® test was carried out on patients during (N = 44) and after (N = 21) irradiation. The test examines verbal/figural/short-term/working memory, psychomotorical speed, selective attention and verbal speed. The results were compared with regular patient and treatment data with an emphasis on the dose applied to the hippocampus.

Results

Overall there were only slight changes in the median test results when comparing the baseline to the follow-up tests. In the ‘verbal memory test’ lower percentile ranks were achieved in left-sided tumors compared to right-sided tumors (p = 0.034). Dexamethasone intake during radiotherapy was significantly correlated with the difference between the two test batteries. Concerning figural memory, a correlation was detected between decreased figural recognition and the radiation dose to the left hippocampus (p = 0.045).

Conclusion

We conclude that tumor infiltration of the hippocampus has an impact on neurocognitive function. However, treatment with radiotherapy seems to have less influence on cognitive outcome than expected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, LMU Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Raphael Bodensohn, Stefanie Corradini, Ute Ganswindt, Jan Hofmaier, Claus Belka & Maximilian Niyazi

  2. Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, LMU Klinikum der Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Oliver Schnell

  3. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Munich, Germany

    Claus Belka & Maximilian Niyazi

  4. German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Claus Belka & Maximilian Niyazi

Authors
  1. Raphael Bodensohn
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  2. Stefanie Corradini
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  3. Ute Ganswindt
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  4. Jan Hofmaier
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  5. Oliver Schnell
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  6. Claus Belka
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  7. Maximilian Niyazi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raphael Bodensohn.

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Conflict of interest

O. Schnell is an advisor for Novocure, Roche; C. Belka receives research funding from the Merck-group Darmstadt, Elekta; R. Bodensohn, S. Corradini, U. Ganswindt, J. Hofmaier and M. Niyazi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Bodensohn, R., Corradini, S., Ganswindt, U. et al. A prospective study on neurocognitive effects after primary radiotherapy in high-grade glioma patients . Int J Clin Oncol 21, 642–650 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-015-0941-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-015-0941-1

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