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Baudou E, Peran P, Tensaouti F, Arribarat G, Pariente J, Courbieres N, Pollidoro L, Bertozzi AI, Gambart M, Sevely A, Roques M, Ducassou A, Danna J, Tallet J, Dufour C, Chaix Y, Laprie A. The long-term impact of irradiation on functional connectivity in brain circuits involved in memory processes after pediatric posterior fossa tumor. Radiother Oncol 2024; 191:110073. [PMID: 38145791 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Memory is one of the main specific cognitive domains impaired with attention and processing speed after a pediatric brain tumor. This work explored the long-term impact of radiotherapy in children with posterior fossa tumor (PFT) on brain connectivity in neural circuits involved in memory using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS A total of 20 irradiated and 15 non-irradiated PFT survivors, and 21 healthy controls, prospectively included in the IMPALA study (NCT04324450), performed memory tests assessing episodic, procedural, and working memories and were subjected to an rs-fMRI. We manually contoured main structures involved in memory to explore connectivity at rest in a seed-to-voxel analysis. The groups were compared and differences in connectivity were correlated with behavioral scores and irradiation doses. RESULTS The performance of all mnesic tasks was lower in PFT survivors with a greater alteration in working and episodic memory in irradiated patients. Irradiated survivors had atypical connectivities in all memory circuits compared to controls and in cortico-caudate and cortico-cerebellar circuits compared to non-irradiated survivors. Non-irradiated survivors had only atypical connectivities in the cortico-cerebellar circuits compared to controls. In irradiated survivors, atypical connectivities in cortico-hippocampal circuits were linked with episodic memory scores and dose of irradiation to the left hippocampus and in cortico-striatal circuits with procedural memory scores and dose of irradiation to the striatum. CONCLUSION The results of this study highlight that irradiation has a long-term impact on brain connectivity in brain circuits involved in memory after pediatric PFT with a specific radiation-dose effect in supratentorial structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloïse Baudou
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
| | - Patrice Peran
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Fatima Tensaouti
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Germain Arribarat
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Neurology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Courbieres
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Lisa Pollidoro
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne-Isabelle Bertozzi
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Marion Gambart
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Annick Sevely
- Radiology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Margaux Roques
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Radiology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Ducassou
- Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémy Danna
- CLLE, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jessica Tallet
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Christelle Dufour
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Yves Chaix
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Laprie
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
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Svaldi C, Ntemou E, Jonkers R, Kohnen S, de Aguiar V. Language outcomes in children who underwent surgery for the removal of a posterior fossa tumor: A systematic review. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2024; 48:129-141. [PMID: 38377646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children who underwent posterior fossa tumor removal may have spoken or written language impairments. The present systematic review synthesized the literature regarding the language outcomes in this population. Benefits of this work were the identification of shortcomings in the literature and a starting point toward formulating guidelines for postoperative language assessment. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted, identifying studies with patients who had posterior fossa surgery before 18 years of age. Included studies were narratively synthesized to understand language outcomes by language function (e.g., phonology, morphosyntax) at a group and individual level. Furthermore, the influence of several mediators (e.g., postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome (pCMS), tumor type) was investigated. A critical evaluation of the language assessment tools was conducted. RESULTS The narrative synthesis of 66 studies showed that a broad spectrum of language impairments has been described, characterized by a large interindividual heterogeneity. Patients younger at diagnosis, receiving treatment for a high-grade tumor and/or radiotherapy and diagnosed with pCMS seemed more prone to impairment. Several gaps in language assessment remain, such as a baseline preoperative assessment and the assessment of pragmatics and morphosyntax. Further, there were important methodological differences in existing studies which complicated our ability to accurately guide clinical practice. CONCLUSION Children who had posterior fossa surgery seem to be at risk for postoperative language impairment. These results stress the need for language follow-up in posterior fossa tumor survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheyenne Svaldi
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands; School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, NSW, 2109, Australia; International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB); Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Effy Ntemou
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands; International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB); Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Linguistics Department, University of Potsdam, Haus 14, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Roel Jonkers
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Saskia Kohnen
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Vânia de Aguiar
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Baudou E, Danna J, Tallet J, Pollidoro L, Tensaouti F, Bertozzi AI, Pariente J, Courbieres N, Dufour C, Grill J, Chaix Y, Laprie A. Impact of a pediatric posterior fossa tumor and its treatments on motor procedural learning. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2023; 44:37-45. [PMID: 37060708 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Posterior fossa tumor (PFT) survivors have difficulty learning new skills. Procedural memory is a skill learning system that allows, through training, the automatization of procedures and progressive improvement of performance. It underlies most of the motor procedures in everyday life that we perform automatically, such as riding a bike or writing. Motor procedural memory is divided into two components: motor sequence learning involving mainly cortico-striatal networks, and motor adaptation involving mainly cortico-cerebellar networks. The aim of this work was to explore the impact of a tumor and its treatment during childhood on procedural learning hypothesizing that sequence learning would be impaired in PFT survivors who have been treated with radiotherapy, whereas motor adaptation would be impaired in all PFT survivors. METHOD 22 irradiated survivors of PFT, 17 non-irradiated survivors and 21 healthy controls from the IMPALA study (NCT04324450) performed a motor sequence learning task and a motor adaptation task. Doses received by striatal and cerebellar structures were reported from the initial dosimetry plans. RESULTS Sequence learning was preserved in both tumor groups, but at the individual level 7/22 irradiated, and 4/17 non-irradiated participants failed to learn the motor sequence. Motor adaptation was impaired in both tumor groups, predominantly in the irradiated group. CONCLUSION This study sheds new light on the long-term impact of PFT treatments in childhood on a rarely-studied part of memory, which is perceptual-motor procedural learning. Our results suggest that the cerebellum and striatum could be considered as organs at risk with regard to procedural learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloïse Baudou
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
| | - Jérémy Danna
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LNC, Marseille, France
| | - Jessica Tallet
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Lisa Pollidoro
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Fatima Tensaouti
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne-Isabelle Bertozzi
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Neurology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Courbieres
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Christelle Dufour
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Jacques Grill
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France; CNRS Unit 8203, Gustave Roussy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Yves Chaix
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Laprie
- Toulouse Neuro-imaging Center (ToNIC), INSERM University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
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Chipeeva N, Deviaterikova A, Glebova E, Romanova E, Karelin A, Kasatkin V. Comparison of Neurocognitive Functioning and Fine Motor Skills in Pediatric Cancer Survivors and Healthy Children. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235982. [PMID: 36497461 PMCID: PMC9738267 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The late treatment outcomes of pediatric brain tumors and of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumors are an important focus of both rehabilitation and research. Neurocognitive and motor disorders induce further learning problems impeding social-emotional adaptation throughout a whole lifespan. Core deficits in short-term and working memory, visuospatial constructional ability, verbal fluency, and fine motor skills underlie distorted intellectual and academic achievement. This study aimed to assess the individual differences in cognitive ability and fine motor skills of pediatric tumor survivors and the age-matched healthy controls. Methods: A total of 504 tumor survivors after treatment and 646 age-matched healthy controls underwent neurocognitive and fine motor assessments. Findings: The group of tumor survivors scored significantly worse in both neurocognitive and fine motor skill in compared with the healthy control group. The pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBT group) performed worse in cognitive (p < 0.001 for verbal fluency and p < 0.001 for visuospatial constructional ability) and motor tests (p < 0.001) compared to the healthy controls. Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues tumors survivors (THL group) performed worse in verbal fluency (p < 0.01) and visuospatial constructional test (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Furthermore, the PBT group had worse results in visuospatial constructional ability (p < 0.05) and fine motor (p < 0.001) ability than the THL group. Significant differences between females and males were found in fine motor test performance in the PBT group (p < 0.05), as well as in verbal fluency (p < 0.01) and visuospatial constructional ability (p < 0.01) in the control group. Neurocognitive and fine motor skill characteristics in the THL group did not correlate with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezda Chipeeva
- Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-950-737-08-43
| | - Alena Deviaterikova
- Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Glebova
- Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Romanova
- Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Karelin
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Kasatkin
- Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance, Peoples Friendship University of Russia, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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A review of long-term deficits in memory systems following radiotherapy for pediatric posterior fossa tumor. Radiother Oncol 2022; 174:111-122. [PMID: 35640769 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, progress in pediatric posterior fossa tumor (PFT) treatments has improved survival rates. However, the majority of survivors present neurocognitive sequelae that impact academic achievement. METHODS This review examines the literature from 2000 to 2020 on long-term outcomes in different memory systems for survivors of pediatric PFT, considering the impact of radiotherapy which is a well-known prognostic factor for global neurocognitive function. RESULTS Of the 43 articles selected, 31 explored working memory, 19 episodic memory, 9 semantic memory and 2 procedural memory. Irradiated survivors had scores of < -2 standard deviation (SD) (n = 4 studies/25) or between -2SD and -1SD (n =7 studies/25) for working memory; < -1SD for anterograde memory (n = 11/13), with a progressive decline in these two memory systems; < -1SD (n = 4/7) in semantic memory, and a deficit in perceptual-motor procedural learning (n = 1/1). Reducing craniospinal irradiation dose, limiting tumor bed boosts, and using proton therapy seem to have had a beneficial effect with better preservation of the memory score and a reduction in the decline over time. Non-irradiated survivors had memory systems that were less affected, with preservation of anterograde memory and maintenance of long-term stability. CONCLUSION Memory deficits are a core feature in survivors of pediatric PFT, especially when treatment requires radiotherapy. To limit these effects, dose constraints for specific brain areas involved in memory should be defined. During long-term follow-up, specific attention is essential to identify these deficits in order to limit their impact on the quality of life.
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Levitch CF, Holland AA, Bledsoe J, Kim SY, Barnett M, Ramjan S, Sands SA. Comparison of neuropsychological functioning in pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors: Medulloblastoma, low-grade astrocytoma, and healthy controls. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29491. [PMID: 34842359 PMCID: PMC10409501 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropsychological comparison of medulloblastoma (MB) and cerebellar low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) survivors to controls can clarify treatment-related neurocognitive late effects. While both brain tumor groups undergo surgery to the posterior fossa, children with MB additionally receive craniospinal irradiation with boost and chemotherapy. This study provides an updated comparison of neuropsychological functioning in these two groups and examines effects of demographic risk factors upon outcomes. PROCEDURE Forty-two children (16 MB, nine LGA, and 17 controls) completed measures of intellectual functioning, verbal learning/memory, visual-motor integration, and fine-motor functioning. The effects of age at diagnosis, time since diagnosis, gender, fatigue, and social status on neuropsychological functioning were examined. RESULTS MB survivors demonstrated the worst neurocognitive late effects, but they were less severe and extensive than in prior studies. LGA survivors' mean scores were below normative expectations in working memory, processing speed, and fine-motor functioning. In this overall sample, processing speed difficulties were independent of fine-motor functioning and fatigue. Higher parental education was associated with better intellectual functioning, working memory, delayed recall, and visual-motor integration. Neuropsychological function was not associated with gender, age at diagnosis, or time since diagnosis. CONCLUSION The results support that contemporary treatment approaches with craniospinal irradiation plus boost and chemotherapy confer the greatest risk for late effects, while surgical resection is associated with subtle but important neurocognitive difficulties. Ultimately, this study furthers our understanding of factors impacting neuropsychological function in pediatric MB and LGA survivors and contributes to empirical support for close monitoring and targeted interventions into survivorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara F. Levitch
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Alice Ann Holland
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Dallas, Texas
- Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Department of Psychiatry, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jesse Bledsoe
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Seattle, Washington
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Soo Young Kim
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marie Barnett
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sameera Ramjan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephen A. Sands
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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A prospective behavioral and imaging study exploring the impact on long-term memory of radiotherapy delivered for a brain tumor in childhood and adolescence. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2022; 33:7-14. [PMID: 34988299 PMCID: PMC8703178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Common long-term memory defects after pediatric brain tumor affect school achievement The hippocampi, the cerebellum and cerebellar-cortical networks play a role in several memory systems. This study will provide long-term neuropsychological data about four different memory systems. We will investigate the correlations between neuropsychological, neuroimaging and radiotherapy dose data. Imaging will be structural (3DT1), microstructural (DTI), functional (rs-fMRI), vascular (ASL) and metabolic (spectroscopy).
Background Posterior fossa tumors represent two thirds of brain tumors in children. Although progress in treatment has improved survival rates over the past few years, long-term memory impairments in survivors are frequent and have an impact on academic achievement. The hippocampi, cerebellum and cerebellar-cortical networks play a role in several memory systems. They are affected not only by the location of the tumor itself and its surgical removal, but also by the supratentorial effects of complementary treatments, particularly radiotherapy. The IMPALA study will investigate the impact of irradiation doses on brain structures involved in memory, especially the hippocampi and cerebellum. Methods/design In this single-center prospective behavioral and neuro-imaging study, 90 participants will be enrolled in three groups. The first two groups will include patients who underwent surgery for a posterior fossa brain tumor in childhood, who are considered to be cured, and who completed treatment at least 5 years earlier, either with radiotherapy (aggressive brain tumor; Group 1) or without (low-grade brain tumor; Group 2). Group 3 will include control participants matched with Group 1 for age, sex, and handedness. All participants will perform an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including an assessment of the main memory systems, and undergo multimodal 3 T MRI. The irradiation dose to the different brain structures involved in memory will be collected from the initial radiotherapy dosimetry. Discussion This study will provide long-term neuropsychological data about four different memory systems (working memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and procedural memory) and the cognitive functions (attention, language, executive functions) that can interfere with them, in order to better characterize memory deficits among the survivors of brain tumors. We will investigate the correlations between neuropsychological and neuroimaging data on the structural (3DT1), microstructural (DTI), functional (rs-fMRI), vascular (ASL) and metabolic (spectroscopy) impact of the tumor and irradiation dose. This study will thus inform the setting of dose constraints to spare regions linked to the development of cognitive and memory functions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04324450, registered March 27, 2020, updated January 25th, 2021. Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04324450.
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Key Words
- 3DT1, T1-weighted imaging
- CMS, Children's Memory Scale
- DFA, discriminating factor analysis
- DTI, diffusion tensor imaging
- IQ, intellectual quotient
- MEM-III, Wechsler Memory Scale
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Memory
- NTCP, normal tissue complication probability
- PFT, posterior fossa tumor
- Posterior fossa brain tumor
- Radiotherapy
- SRTT, serial reaction time task
- Spectroscopy
- TCP, tumor control probability
- WAIS, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
- WISC, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
- pCASL, pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling
- rs-fMRI, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging
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Zilli T, Dolcemascolo V, Passone E, Maieron M, De Colle MC, Skrap M, Ius T, Liguoro I, Venchiarutti M, Cogo P, Tomasino B. A multimodal approach to the study of children treated for posterior fossa tumor: A review of the literature and a pilot study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 207:106819. [PMID: 34274656 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aims of the present study were: (1) to review the literature on long-lasting cognitive sequelae in children treated for Posterior Fossa Tumor and (2) to investigate anatomic functional relations in a case series of 7 children treated for PFT using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) post-processing methods. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed MRIs of children who underwent complete surgical resection of PFT and performed extensive neuropsychological evaluation. Tumor, ventricular volumes, and VPS insertion site were drawn on T1 volumetric MRI scans and normalized to a pediatric template. Children showed worse performances on tasks tapping executive functions, memory, visuo-motor precision, and expressive language. RESULTS Volumes of interest related to these functions showed a maximum overlap on the left vermis and the lateral ventricle enlargement, except for impaired narrative fluency -which was associated with left lateral ventricle enlargement- and narrative memory -which was related to the right vermis and the enlarged fourth ventricle. CONCLUSION Results suggest that anatomic functional relations in children treated for PFT are related to a combination of different pathophysiological factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Zilli
- Scientific Institute Eugenio Medea, Via della Bontà n. 7, 33078 San Vito al Tagliamento, PN, Italy.
| | - Valentina Dolcemascolo
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Eva Passone
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Marta Maieron
- Department of Medical Physics, University Hospital of Udine, P.le S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina De Colle
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Udine, P.le S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Miran Skrap
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Udine, P.le S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Tamara Ius
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Udine, P.le S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Ilaria Liguoro
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Martina Venchiarutti
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy; Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Italy
| | - Paola Cogo
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericordia 15, 33100, Italy
| | - Barbara Tomasino
- Scientific Institute Eugenio Medea, Via della Bontà n. 7, 33078 San Vito al Tagliamento, PN, Italy
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Panzeri D, Bettinelli MS, Biffi E, Rossi F, Pellegrini C, Orsini N, Recchiuti V, Massimino M, Poggi G. Application of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in pediatric oncology patients: A multicenter study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2020; 37:687-695. [PMID: 32705928 DOI: 10.1080/08880018.2020.1785600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Posterior cranial fossa (PCF) tumors in childhood are often associated with ataxia as well as other motor, neurobehavioral and linguistic impairment. The use of a reliable outcome measure is mandatory to evaluate the severity of impairment and monitor rehabilitation effectiveness. The aim of this work is to explore the validity of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in pediatric subjects with ataxia secondary to PCF tumor resection and evaluate the influence of age and comorbidities. Seventy eight patients (3-18 years) were recruited in 5 centers from 2016 to 2018. The age effect on SARA was analyzed by correlating total SARA scores and item scores with age and gradually excluding youngest subjects. The comorbidity effect was evaluated by comparing the ataxia-only group vs a group of subjects with ataxia + dysfunction of cranial nerves or cerebellar mutism (CM) and a group of patients with ataxia + hemiparesis. Several negative correlations between SARA scores and age were found under age 9. Differences between ataxia-only group and the other two groups were closely associated with specific comorbidities (e.g. speech disturbance in cranial nerves or CM group (p value < 0.001) and gait, stance, sitting and finger chase in the hemiparetic group (mean p value 0.022)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Panzeri
- Unità Operativa Riabilitazione Neuroncologica, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Micol Sara Bettinelli
- Unità Operativa Riabilitazione Neuroncologica, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Emilia Biffi
- Bioengineering lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Francesca Rossi
- Public Health and Paediatric Sciences Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza - Regina Margherita Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Service, Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Pellegrini
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, S.C. Terapia del Dolore, Cure Palliative e Riabilitazione, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Orsini
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, U.O.C. Medicina fisica e Riabilitazione, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Veronica Recchiuti
- Servizio di Riabilitazione Funzionale, Dipartimento Neuroscienze - Neuroriabilitazione, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Roma, Italy
| | - Maura Massimino
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, S.C. Terapia del Dolore, Cure Palliative e Riabilitazione, Milano, Italy
| | - Geraldina Poggi
- Unità Operativa Riabilitazione Neuroncologica, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
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Neuropsychological Profile in Children with Posterior Fossa Tumors with or Without Postoperative Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome (CMS). THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 19:78-88. [PMID: 31832994 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01088-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) is a common surgical sequela in children following posterior fossa tumor (PFT) resection. Here, we analyze the neuropsychological features associated with PFT in children, focusing particularly on the differential profiles associated with the presence or absence of CMS after surgery. We further examine the effect of post-resection treatments, tumor type, and presence/absence of hydrocephalus on surgical outcome. Thirty-six patients diagnosed with PFT (19 with and 17 without CMS) and 34 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was conducted in all patients postoperatively and in HCs, including an assessment of general cognitive ability, motor skills, perception, language, memory, attention, executive functions, and academic competence. CMS was found to be a clinical marker of lower neuropsychological profile scores across all cognitive domains except auditory-verbal processing and visual memory tasks. PFT patients not presenting CMS exhibited milder impairment in intellectual functioning, motor tasks, reasoning, language, verbal learning and recall, attention, cognitive executive functions, and academic competence. High-grade tumors were associated with slower processing speed and verbal delayed recall as well as alterations in selective and sustained attention. Hydrocephalus was detrimental to motor functioning and nonverbal reasoning. Patients who had undergone surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy presented impaired processing speed, verbal learning, and reading. In addition to the deleterious effects of PFT, post-resection PFT treatments have a negative cognitive impact. These undesired consequences and the associated tumor-related damage can be assessed using standardized, long-term neuropsychological evaluation when planning rehabilitation.
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Neuroanatomic Correlates for the Neuropsychological Manifestations of Chiari Malformation Type I. World Neurosurg 2020; 136:462-469. [PMID: 32204298 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.01.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Chiari malformation comprises a spectrum of congenital malformations characterized by a herniation of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum. Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) is the most prevalent subtype seen in clinical practice. This condition variably compresses the cerebellum and medulla-spinal cord junction secondary to malformation of the posterior fossa. Most neurologists and neurosurgeons recognize the sensorimotor and lower brainstem manifestations that result in the clinical picture of CM-I. The effects of CM-I on cognitive functioning, however, and their impact on neuropsychological performance are poorly understood, despite having long been recognized. This article reviews neuropsychological deficits demonstrated by individuals with CM-I, and explores cerebellocortical neuroanatomic pathways to provide possible rationale for the neurocognitive impairments present in affected individuals.
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Time series modeling of cell cycle exit identifies Brd4 dependent regulation of cerebellar neurogenesis. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3028. [PMID: 31292434 PMCID: PMC6620341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10799-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar neuronal progenitors undergo a series of divisions before irreversibly exiting the cell cycle and differentiating into neurons. Dysfunction of this process underlies many neurological diseases including ataxia and the most common pediatric brain tumor, medulloblastoma. To better define the pathways controlling the most abundant neuronal cells in the mammalian cerebellum, cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPs), we performed RNA-sequencing of GCPs exiting the cell cycle. Time-series modeling of GCP cell cycle exit identified downregulation of activity of the epigenetic reader protein Brd4. Brd4 binding to the Gli1 locus is controlled by Casein Kinase 1δ (CK1 δ)-dependent phosphorylation during GCP proliferation, and decreases during GCP cell cycle exit. Importantly, conditional deletion of Brd4 in vivo in the developing cerebellum induces cerebellar morphological deficits and ataxia. These studies define an essential role for Brd4 in cerebellar granule cell neurogenesis and are critical for designing clinical trials utilizing Brd4 inhibitors in neurological indications. The mechanisms controlling irreversible cell cycle exit in cerebellar granule progenitors (GCPs) have not been fully elucidated. Here, the authors performed RNA-sequencing of GCPs exiting the cell cycle to identify downregulation of Brd4 activity as an early event during cell cycle exit which subsequently regulates Shh activity and is needed for proper cerebellar development
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Doger de Spéville E, Kieffer V, Dufour C, Grill J, Noulhiane M, Hertz-Pannier L, Chevignard M. Neuropsychological consequences of childhood medulloblastoma and possible interventions: A review. Neurochirurgie 2018; 67:90-98. [PMID: 29716738 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children who have been treated for a medulloblastoma often suffer long-term cognitive impairments that often negatively affect their academic performance and quality of life. In this article, we will review the neuropsychological consequences of childhood medulloblastoma and discuss the risk factors known to influence the presence and severity of these cognitive impairments and possible interventions to improve their quality of life. METHODS This narrative review was based on electronic searches of PubMed to identify all relevant studies. RESULTS Although many types of cognitive impairments often emerge during a child's subsequent development, the core cognitive domains that are most often affected in children treated for a medulloblastoma are processing speed, attention and working memory. The emergence and magnitude of these deficits varies greatly among patients. They are influenced by demographic (age at diagnosis, parental education), medical and treatment-related factors (perioperative complications, including posterior fossa syndrome, radiation therapy dose, etc.), and the quality of interventions such as school adaptations provided to the child or rehabilitation programs that focus on cognitive skills, behavior and psychosocial functioning. CONCLUSION These patients require specialized and coordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation follow-up that provides timely and adapted assessments and culminates in personalized intervention goals being set with the patient and the family. Follow-up should be continued until referral to adult services.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Doger de Spéville
- Inserm U1129, CEA, Paris Descartes university, 75005 Paris, France; UNIACT, institut Joliot, DRF, Neurospin, CEA, Paris Saclay university, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Department of pediatric and adolescent oncology, Gustave-Roussy, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | - V Kieffer
- Department of pediatric and adolescent oncology, Gustave-Roussy, 94800 Villejuif, France; CSI (Outreach team for children and adolescents with acquired brain injury), department for children with acquired brain injury, hôpitaux de Saint-Maurice, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France
| | - C Dufour
- Department of pediatric and adolescent oncology, Gustave-Roussy, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | - J Grill
- Department of pediatric and adolescent oncology, Gustave-Roussy, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | - M Noulhiane
- Inserm U1129, CEA, Paris Descartes university, 75005 Paris, France; UNIACT, institut Joliot, DRF, Neurospin, CEA, Paris Saclay university, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - L Hertz-Pannier
- Inserm U1129, CEA, Paris Descartes university, 75005 Paris, France; UNIACT, institut Joliot, DRF, Neurospin, CEA, Paris Saclay university, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - M Chevignard
- CSI (Outreach team for children and adolescents with acquired brain injury), department for children with acquired brain injury, hôpitaux de Saint-Maurice, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France; Rehabilitation department for children with acquired neurological injury, and outreach team for children and adolescents with acquired brain injury, Saint-Maurice hospitals, 14, rue du Val-d'Osne, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France; Sorbonne université, laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, LIB, 75006 Paris, France; GRC n(o) 18, handicap cognitif et réadaptation (HanCRe)- Sorbonne université, 75013 Paris, France.
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14
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Vicari S, Piccini G, Mercuri E, Battini R, Chieffo D, Bulgheroni S, Pecini C, Lucibello S, Lenzi S, Moriconi F, Pane M, D’Amico A, Astrea G, Baranello G, Riva D, Cioni G, Alfieri P. Implicit learning deficit in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Evidence for a cerebellar cognitive impairment? PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191164. [PMID: 29338029 PMCID: PMC5770044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at comparing implicit sequence learning in individuals affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy without intellectual disability and age-matched typically developing children. A modified version of the Serial Reaction Time task was administered to 32 Duchenne children and 37 controls of comparable chronological age. The Duchenne group showed a reduced rate of implicit learning even if in the absence of global intellectual disability. This finding provides further evidence of the involvement of specific aspects of cognitive function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and on its possible neurobiological substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Vicari
- Department of Neuroscience, Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Piccini
- Department of Neuroscience, Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone (Pisa), Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Chieffo
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bulgheroni
- Developmental Neurology Division, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Pecini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone (Pisa), Italy
| | - Simona Lucibello
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Lenzi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone (Pisa), Italy
| | - Federica Moriconi
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Pane
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele D’Amico
- Department of Neurosciences, Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Guja Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone (Pisa), Italy
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- Developmental Neurology Division, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Riva
- Developmental Neurology Division, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone (Pisa), Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Alfieri
- Department of Neuroscience, Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Molinari M, Masciullo M, Bulgheroni S, D'Arrigo S, Riva D. Cognitive aspects: sequencing, behavior, and executive functions. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2018; 154:167-180. [PMID: 29903438 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63956-1.00010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The question posed today is not whether the cerebellum plays a role in cognition, but instead, how the cerebellum contributes to cognitive processes, even in the developmental age. The central role of the cerebellum in many areas of human abilities, motor as well as cognitive, in childhood as well as in adulthood, is well established but cerebellar basic functioning is still not clear and is much debated. Of particular interest is the changing face of cerebellar influence on motor, higher cognitive, and behavioral functioning when adult and developmental lesions are compared. The idea that the cerebellum might play quite different roles during development and in adulthood has been proposed, and evidence from experimental and clinical literature has been provided, including for sequencing, behavioral aspects, and executive functions Still, more data are needed to fully understand the changes of cerebrocerebellar interactions within the segregated loops which connect cerebrum and cerebellum, not only between childhood and adulthood but also in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Molinari
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marcella Masciullo
- Translational Clinical Research Division, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bulgheroni
- Translational Clinical Research Division, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano D'Arrigo
- Translational Clinical Research Division, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Riva
- Translational Clinical Research Division, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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Hanzlik E, Woodrome SE, Abdel-Baki M, Geller TJ, Elbabaa SK. A systematic review of neuropsychological outcomes following posterior fossa tumor surgery in children. Childs Nerv Syst 2015; 31:1869-75. [PMID: 26351236 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-015-2867-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Central nervous system tumors are the most common solid tumors in the pediatric population. As children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors are surviving into adolescence and adulthood, more research is being focused on the long-term cognitive outcomes of the survivors. This review examines the literature on different cognitive outcomes of survivors of different childhood posterior fossa CNS tumor types. METHODS The authors reviewed the literature for articles published from 2000 to 2012 about long-term neuropsychological outcomes of children diagnosed with posterior fossa brain tumors before the age of 18, which distinguished between histological tumor types, and had a minimum follow-up of 3 years. RESULTS The literature search returned 13 articles, and a descriptive analysis was performed comparing intelligence quotient (IQ), attention/executive function, and memory components of 456 survivors of childhood posterior fossa tumors. Four articles directly compared astrocytoma and medulloblastoma survivors and showed medulloblastoma survivors fared worse in IQ, attention/executive function, and memory measurements. Five articles reporting medulloblastomas found IQ, attention, and memory scores to be significantly below the standardized means. Articles examining astrocytoma survivors found IQ scores within the normal range for the population. Survivors of ependymomas reported 2/23 survivors impaired on IQ scores, while a second study reported a significant number of ependymoma survivors lower than the expected population norm. CONCLUSIONS Tumor histopathology and the type of postoperative adjuvant therapy seem to have a significant impact on the long-term neuropsychological complications of pediatric posterior fossa CNS tumor survivors. Age at diagnosis and treatment factors are important variables that affect the outcomes of the survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hanzlik
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stacey E Woodrome
- Department of Psychology, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mohamed Abdel-Baki
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Thomas J Geller
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samer K Elbabaa
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1465 South Grand Blvd, Suite 2705, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
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Abstract
Developmental dyslexia is a genetically based neurobiological syndrome, which is characterized by reading difficulty despite normal or high general intelligence. Even remediated dyslexic readers rarely achieve fast, fluent reading. Some dyslexics also have impairments in attention, short-term memory, sequencing (letters, word sounds, and motor acts), eye movements, poor balance, and general clumsiness. The presence of "cerebellar" motor and fluency symptoms led to the proposal that cerebellar dysfunction contributes to the etiology of dyslexia. Supporting this, functional imaging studies suggest that the cerebellum is part of the neural network supporting reading in typically developing readers, and reading difficulties have been reported in patients with cerebellar damage. Differences in both cerebellar asymmetry and gray matter volume are some of the most consistent structural brain findings in dyslexics compared with good readers. Furthermore, cerebellar functional activation patterns during reading and motor learning can differ in dyslexic readers. Behaviorally, some children and adults with dyslexia show poorer performance on cerebellar motor tasks, including eye movement control, postural stability, and implicit motor learning. However, many dyslexics do not have cerebellar signs, many cerebellar patients do not have reading problems, and differences in dyslexic brains are found throughout the whole reading network, and not isolated to the cerebellum. Therefore, impaired cerebellar function is probably not the primary cause of dyslexia, but rather a more fundamental neurodevelopmental abnormality leads to differences throughout the reading network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Psychology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA.
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18
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Supratentorial Neurometabolic Alterations in Pediatric Survivors of Posterior Fossa Tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2012; 82:1135-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Revised: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Patel SK, Mullins WA, O'Neil SH, Wilson K. Neuropsychological differences between survivors of supratentorial and infratentorial brain tumours. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2011; 55:30-40. [PMID: 21121992 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01344.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between brain tumour location and core areas of cognitive and behavioural functioning for paediatric brain tumour survivors. The extant literature both supports and refutes an association between paediatric brain tumour location and neurocognitive outcomes. We examined neuropsychological test data to identify any differences in neurocognitive and behavioural profile associated with supratentorial versus infratentorial tumour location. METHODS Following Institutional Review Board approval, the medical records and neuropsychological test data collected between 1997 and 2002 for 70 children treated for brain tumour at Children's Hospital Los Angeles were reviewed. Fifty-one per cent of the participants had tumours located in the supratentorial regions of the brain, whereas 49% had infratentorial tumours. Primary medical treatments involved tumour resection (90%), cranial radiation therapy (76%), chemotherapy (71%), and 59% all three medical procedures. The two tumour location groups did not differ significantly in the cumulative treatment dose of irradiation to the tumour bed or in the dose delivered to the whole brain. Neuropsychological test data included measures of verbal and non-verbal intellectual functioning, attention/working memory, processing speed, verbal and visual memory, fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, academic achievement, and social-emotional functioning. Differences between the two groups were evaluated using anova, t-tests and chi-squared statistical tests. RESULTS The supratentorial and infratentorial tumour location groups did not differ on measures of intellectual functioning. However, survivors of infratentorial tumours performed more poorly on selected measures of more specific cognitive functions and on parent-report of social-emotional functioning relative to survivors of supratentorial tumours, even when age at diagnosis was held as a covariate. Higher frequency of auditory deficits was noted in the infratentorial tumour group and was associated with lowered academic achievement scores. CONCLUSIONS The differences by location found in more specific neurocognitive and social-emotional variables, after controlling for age at diagnosis, may possibly reflect tumour location-specific effects. However, this interpretation remains tentative given the limitations in our study and inability to control for the range of medical and treatment-related factors that may have contributed towards the outcomes observed in our sample. At the same time, most of our findings appear consistent with reports from recent studies in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Patel
- City of Hope Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA.
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Rueckriegel SM, Blankenburg F, Henze G, Baqué H, Driever PH. Loss of fine motor function correlates with ataxia and decline of cognition in cerebellar tumor survivors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009; 53:424-31. [PMID: 19484752 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.22104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Motor and cognitive function losses resemble handicaps in pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors. Several factors determine type and extent of impairment. We quantified loss of fine motor function and its association with ataxia and intelligence in patients with and without adjuvant treatment. PROCEDURE Fine motor function, extent of ataxia and cognitive function were assessed in 25 medulloblastoma (MB) and 16 cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) patients at least 1 year after completion of therapy. Kinematic parameters (speed, automation, variability, and pressure) of different movement complexity levels were investigated employing a digitizing graphic tablet. Degree of ataxia was quantified using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale and cognition was determined using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. RESULTS Kinematic parameters of low and high complexity tasks as well as ataxia of MB patients were strongly impaired. Fine motor impairment was weaker in PA patients, but still evident in the complex task of writing. Ataxia was significantly more pronounced in medulloblastoma patients. Young age and short recovery time correlated significantly with impaired kinematic parameters. Ataxia was strongly associated with inferior fine motor function. Cognition, especially performance IQ, was associated with dysfunctional kinematic parameters. CONCLUSION The digitizing tablet detected extent of fine motor function loss at varying levels of complexity of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors. This tool promises to be a potentially effective method for measuring fine motor function in clinical trials and may be helpful in studying mechanisms of neurotoxicity in posterior fossa tumor patients as well as success of rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mark Rueckriegel
- Pediatric Neurooncology Program, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Rueckriegel SM, Driever PH, Blankenburg F, Lüdemann L, Henze G, Bruhn H. Differences in supratentorial damage of white matter in pediatric survivors of posterior fossa tumors with and without adjuvant treatment as detected by magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2009; 76:859-66. [PMID: 19540067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2008] [Revised: 02/26/2009] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To elucidate morphologic correlates of brain dysfunction in pediatric survivors of posterior fossa tumors by using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine neuroaxonal integrity in white matter. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventeen medulloblastoma (MB) patients who had received surgery and adjuvant treatment, 13 pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) patients who had been treated only with surgery, and age-matched healthy control subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging on a 3-Tesla system. High-resolution conventional T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and DTI data sets were obtained. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics, a part of the Functional MRI of the Brain Software Library. RESULTS Compared with control subjects, FA values of MB patients were significantly decreased in the cerebellar midline structures, in the frontal lobes, and in the callosal body. Fractional anisotropy values of the PA patients were not only decreased in cerebellar hemispheric structures as expected, but also in supratentorial parts of the brain, with a distribution similar to that in MB patients. However, the amount of significantly decreased FA was greater in MB than in PA patients, underscoring the aggravating neurotoxic effect of the adjuvant treatment. CONCLUSIONS Neurotoxic mechanisms that are present in PA patients (e.g., internal hydrocephalus and damaged cerebellar structures affecting neuronal circuits) contribute significantly to the alteration of supratentorial white matter in pediatric posterior fossa tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mark Rueckriegel
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Lagarde J, Hantkie O, Hajjioui A, Yelnik A. Neuropsychological disorders induced by cerebellar damage. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2009; 52:360-70. [PMID: 19874739 DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2009.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2008] [Accepted: 02/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Motor coordination disorders caused by cerebellar dysfunction are well known. However, the less known cerebellar neuropsychological disorders also merit attention, since they occur more frequently than one might imagine. CASE REPORT We describe a 66-year-old patient with severe cerebellar damage caused by hemorrhagic stroke and associated with cognitive impairments (including impaired executive function, reasoning and judgment). A review of the literature on these neuropsychological disorders revealed a set of clinical, anatomical and functional imaging arguments that prompted us to broaden our vision of the cerebellum's role by acknowledging the presence of a cognitive component as well as the well-known motility component. In fact, there is good evidence of altered executive function (including mental flexibility, scheduling capacities and verbal working memory) in cerebellar patients. Visuospatial capacities are also affected, with disorders of visual memory and construction abilities having been reported. In terms of language, we noted reports of hypospontaneity and agrammatism with syntax problems. Memory (especially verbal memory), learning (both associative and procedural), judgment and reasoning also seem to be affected. In terms of emotion, various types of abnormal behavior and psychiatric disorders have been described and range from depression to true psychoses. Even though these data are controversial and must be confirmed, they prompt us to reconsider and deepen our understanding of the cerebellum's role and the functioning and improve our approach to (and management of) patients with cerebellar damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lagarde
- Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, groupe hospitalier Lariboisière F.-Widal, université Paris 7, 200, rue-de-Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France
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Stoodley CJ, Ray NJ, Jack A, Stein JF. Implicit Learning in Control, Dyslexic, and Garden-Variety Poor Readers. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2008; 1145:173-83. [PMID: 19076396 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1416.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Baillieux H, Smet HJD, Paquier PF, De Deyn PP, Mariën P. Cerebellar neurocognition: Insights into the bottom of the brain. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2008; 110:763-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2008.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2008] [Revised: 04/24/2008] [Accepted: 05/13/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Vaquero E, Gómez CM, Quintero EA, González-Rosa JJ, Márquez J. Differential prefrontal-like deficit in children after cerebellar astrocytoma and medulloblastoma tumor. Behav Brain Funct 2008; 4:18. [PMID: 18412947 PMCID: PMC2362115 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-4-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2007] [Accepted: 04/15/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study was realized thanks to the collaboration of children and adolescents who had been resected from cerebellar tumors. The medulloblastoma group (CE+, n = 7) in addition to surgery received radiation and chemotherapy. The astrocytoma group (CE, n = 13) did not receive additional treatments. Each clinical group was compared in their executive functioning with a paired control group (n = 12). The performances of the clinical groups with respect to controls were compared considering the tumor's localization (vermis or hemisphere) and the affectation (or not) of the dentate nucleus. Executive variables were correlated with the age at surgery, the time between surgery-evaluation and the resected volume. Methods The executive functioning was assessed by means of WCST, Complex Rey Figure, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (letter and animal categories), Digits span (WISC-R verbal scale) and Stroop test. These tests are very sensitive to dorsolateral PFC and/or to medial frontal cortex functions. The scores for the non-verbal Raven IQ were also obtained. Direct scores were corrected by age and transformed in standard scores using normative data. The neuropsychological evaluation was made at 3.25 (SD = 2.74) years from surgery in CE group and at 6.47 (SD = 2.77) in CE+ group. Results The Medulloblastoma group showed severe executive deficit (≤ 1.5 SD below normal mean) in all assessed tests, the most severe occurring in vermal patients. The Astrocytoma group also showed executive deficits in digits span, semantic fluency (animal category) and moderate to slight deficit in Stroop (word and colour) tests. In the astrocytoma group, the tumor's localization and dentate affectation showed different profile and level of impairment: moderate to slight for vermal and hemispheric patients respectively. The resected volume, age at surgery and the time between surgery-evaluation correlated with some neuropsychological executive variables. Conclusion Results suggest a differential prefrontal-like deficit due to cerebellar lesions and/or cerebellar-frontal diaschisis, as indicate the results in astrocytoma group (without treatments), that also can be generated and/or increased by treatments in the medulloblastoma group. The need for differential rehabilitation strategies for specific clinical groups is remarked. The results are also discussed in the context of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Encarna Vaquero
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Seville University, Seville, Spain.
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Oliveri M, Torriero S, Koch G, Salerno S, Petrosini L, Caltagirone C. The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the study of cerebellar cognitive function. THE CEREBELLUM 2007; 6:95-101. [PMID: 17366271 DOI: 10.1080/14734220701213421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) allows non-invasive stimulation of brain structures. This technique can be used either for stimulating the motor cortex, recording motor evoked potentials from peripheral muscles, or for modulating the excitability of other non-motor areas in order to establish their necessity for a given task. TMS of the cerebellum can give interesting insights on the cerebellar functions. Paired-TMS techniques, delivering stimuli over the cerebellum followed at various interstimulus intervals by stimuli over the motor cortex, allow studying the pattern of connectivity between the cerebellum and the contralateral motor cortex in physiological as well as in pathological conditions. Repetitive TMS, delivering trains of stimuli at different frequencies, allows interfering with the function of cerebellar circuits during the execution of cognitive tasks. This application complements neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies in the study of the cerebellar involvement in a number of cognitive operations, ranging from procedural memory, working memory and learning through observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Oliveri
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Palermo, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.
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