Hypothalamic Involvement Predicts Cognitive Performance and Psychosocial Health in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Craniopharyngioma

• Context: Hypothalamic damage caused by craniopharyngioma (CP) is associated with poor functional outcome. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanObjective: To assess cognitive function and quality of life in childhood-onset CP on hormonal replacement, including GH treatment. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign: A cross-sectional study with a median follow-up time of 20 years (1-40). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSetting: Patients were recruited from the South Medical Region of Sweden. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanParticipants: The study included 42 patients (20 women) surgically treated for a childhood-onset CP between 1958 and 2000. Patients were aged andgt;= 17 years. Equally many controls, matched for age, sex, residence, and smoking habits, were included. Tumor growth into the third ventricle was found in 25 patients. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMain Outcome Measures: All subjects were examined with a battery of cognitive tests and the following questionnaires: Symptom Checklist-90, the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, and the Social Network concept. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: The CP patients had lower cognitive performance, reaching statistical significance in 12 of 20 test variables, including executive function and memory. Comparison of patients with tumor growth into the third ventricle to controls revealed a significant lower mean total score (P = .006). A significant negative correlation was recorded between mean z-score of cognitive performance and years since operation (r = -0.407; P = .014). No statistically significant group differences were observed across any of the 9 Symptom Checklist-90 subscales. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: Adults with childhood-onset CP, on hormone replacement, including GH treatment, have memory defects, disturbed attention, and impaired processing speed. Patients with hypothalamic involvement are more affected. Patients rated their quality of life as good as their matched controls.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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