Cognitive outcome after radiotherapy in brain tumor

This article reviews the cognitive outcomes after radiotherapy in brain tumor patients, focusing on radiation-induced impairments, and then discusses actual cognitive assessment limitations. Recent findings: Although physiopathology of radiation-induced cognitive impairments remains elusive, a general course can be described as acute, early-delayed, and late-delayed effects corresponding to different processes. The last is of high interest because the related impairments are irreversible. In this context, a cognitive assessment should be performed as often as possible, but actual tools are unfortunately not developed. Nevertheless, with respect to neuro-oncologic specificities, new cognitive tools could be developed to overcome these limitations. Summary: Improvements in neuropsychologic assessment for brain tumor patients are urgently needed. A dynamic vision of radiation-induced cognitive impairments appears inevitable and should lead to a change in actual considerations about neurotoxicity follow-up.
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research