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Neurocognitive functioning and health-related quality of life in patients with radiologically suspected meningiomas

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Abstract

Few data are available concerning the neurocognitive outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following neurosurgery in meningioma patients, and even less is known about neurocognitive functioning and HRQOL in untreated patients with stable lesions. The present study aims at quantifying the nature and extent of neurocognitive deficits and HRQOL in suspected WHO grade I meningioma patients who have not received surgery and/or radiotherapy and compare outcome to that of healthy controls. Neurocognitive functioning was assessed by using a standardized test battery in 21 radiologically suspected WHO grade I meningioma patients with a wait-and-scan approach. HRQOL was assessed with the MOS SF-36 questionnaire. These patients were matched for age, sex, and education with 21 healthy controls. Associations between neurocognitive functioning on the one hand and HRQOL and tumor characteristics on the other were determined. Compared to healthy controls, meningioma patients had lower psychomotor speed (p = 0.011) and working memory capacity (p = 0.034) and furthermore attained lower levels of self-perceived general health and vitality. Neurocognitive functioning in untreated patients was not related to tumor volume, edema or tumor lateralization. No correlations were found between psychomotor speed or working memory and HRQOL. Untreated meningioma patients with stable lesions have limitations in neurocognitive functioning and HRQOL. In deciding upon a treatment strategy these reductions in functioning should be taken into consideration and communicated with the patient.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology - HP.2F 35, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    D. van Nieuwenhuizen, J. J. Heimans & J. C. Reijneveld

  2. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    N. Ambachtsheer & M. Klein

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    S. M. Peerdeman

  4. Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. C. Reijneveld

  5. Meningioma Group Amsterdam (MeGA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    D. van Nieuwenhuizen, N. Ambachtsheer, J. J. Heimans, J. C. Reijneveld, S. M. Peerdeman & M. Klein

Authors
  1. D. van Nieuwenhuizen
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  2. N. Ambachtsheer
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  3. J. J. Heimans
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  4. J. C. Reijneveld
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  5. S. M. Peerdeman
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  6. M. Klein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. van Nieuwenhuizen.

Additional information

D. van Nieuwenhuizen and N. Ambachtsheer contributed equally to this work.

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van Nieuwenhuizen, D., Ambachtsheer, N., Heimans, J.J. et al. Neurocognitive functioning and health-related quality of life in patients with radiologically suspected meningiomas. J Neurooncol 113, 433–440 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-013-1132-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-013-1132-4

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