Neuropsychological sequelae of childhood brain tumors: A review

Although children with brain tumors account for 20% of all pediatric cancer and comprise a theoretically important population for the study of brain-behavior relationships, surprisingly few neuropsychological investigations have been forthcoming. Evidence regarding the effects of hydrocephalus, age at diagnosis, extent of irradiation treatment, and tumor location on the subsequent neuropsychological status of survivors is reviewed. Failure to adequately analyze these variables and their potential interactions, equivocal findings across studies, a lack of sophistication in neuropsychological assessment and study design, and conclusions based upon small and oftentimes heterogenous samples are prevalent problems. Although it appears that young children with supratentorial tumors who receive cranial irradiation are at highest risk for intellectual, academic, and emotional dysfunction, further research is sorely needed to define the relationship between disease- and treatment-related variables and subsequent neuropsychological functioning.