Evaluation of mental status in patients diagnosed with brain tumor

Objective: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in childhood. Advances in treatment methods have led patients to question their neurocognitive future and quality of life. In our study, we aimed to determine the effects of the disease and treatment by applying the WISC-R intelligence test to the patients.. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 20 patients aged 6-16 years who were diagnosed with brain tumors and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy children. WISC-R intelligence test was applied to these two groups. The intelligence test scores of the patient and control groups and the scores of the patients who were grouped in terms of diagnosis and treatment within the patient group were compared. Results: The number of men and women and age ranges were equal in both groups. The most common presenting symptom of the patients was headache. 10% of the patients had a family history. While the most common diagnosis was diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors, the most common location was posterior fossa. A significant difference was found between the verbal, performance and overall score results of the WISC-R intelligence test administered to the patients and the control group (p=0.025, p=0.001, p=0.002, respectively). A significant difference was also found in the comparison between the male patient and control group (p=0.026, p=0.002, p=0.006, respectively). The time elapsed since diagnosis was also compared, and as the time increased, lower intelligence scores were determined (p=0.046, p=0.040, p=0.039, respectively). Conclusions: Our study is one of the few studies in the literature evaluating the mental status of patients diagnosed with brain tumors. The fact that the intelligence scores of the patients decreased significantly compared to the controls in the same age group and became more pronounced as the duration increased, revealed the importance of monitoring neurocognitive late effects in those recovering from pediatric brain tumors. Keywords: WISC-R intelligence test, brain tumor