Cognitive performance of medulloblastoma tumour survivors related to the area of cerebellum damage

Natalia Maja Józefacka; Magdalena Dagmara Machnikowska-Sokołowska; Mateusz Franciszek Kołek; Katarzyna Jadwiga Gruszczyńska; Katarzyna Musioł

doi:10.5603/RPOR.a2022.0105

Cognitive performance of medulloblastoma tumour survivors related to the area of cerebellum damage

Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2022 Dec 29;27(6):1037-1044. doi: 10.5603/RPOR.a2022.0105. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Natalia Maja Józefacka¹, Magdalena Dagmara Machnikowska-Sokołowska², Mateusz Franciszek Kołek³, Katarzyna Jadwiga Gruszczyńska², Katarzyna Musioł⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology, Pedagogical University in Kraków, Krakow, Poland.
² Division of Diagnostic Imaging Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
³ Diplomstudium Humanmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria.
⁴ Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between a damaged cerebellum area and the cognitive performance of medulloblastoma tumour survivors. Also, age-based differences in cognitive performance were tested.

Materials and methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was used to obtain brain images of survivors. The cognitive performance was tested using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revised (WISC-R) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Statistical analysis was performed with highly robust permutation tests.

Results: There were two anatomical features strongly influencing the cognitive performance of survivors. The extension of the foramen of Luschka had a negative impact on the overall verbal IQ score and some non-verbal scales while the excision of the middle part of the vermis influenced scores in such scales as arithmetic and picture completing.

Conclusions: Children with postoperative damages in the area of the middle part of the vermis are more likely to suffer from cognitive dysfunctions after the end of the treatment.

Keywords: MRI; cerebellum; cognitive performance; medulloblastoma.