Assessment of Neurocognitive Functions in Children Treated for Cancer

Abstract

Background: About eight percent of adults and children who receive a cancer diagnosis today are projected to live at least 5 years thanks to advancements in pediatric cancer therapy over the last several decades. More than half a million people will have survived childhood cancer by 2020, according to current estimates.
Objective: To evaluate the association between childhood cancer, antineoplastic treatment and neurocognitive dysfunction.
Patients and Methods: In the Pediatrics Department of the Faculty of Medicine at Zagazig University, a case control study was undertaken on 25 cancer patients who had completed their treatment and on 25 healthy children between August 2020 and July 2021. Children of both sexes, aged 5-15, were enrolled in the study.
Results: In terms of full and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) scale, there was statistically significant difference between the groups (much higher in the control group), but the verbal scale did not differ statistically between the groups. Regarding verbal IQ, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups examined. However, there were no significant differences in IQ subtests for information, vocabulary, arithmetic, comprehension, picture completion, mazes or block design between groups. Control group was significantly higher as regard similarity and geometric design.
Conclusions: Neurocognitive function is affected in cancer survivors of children as there is statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding full, and performance IQ scale (significantly higher in control group) but verbal scale was not statistically different between the groups.