Prospective study on the presence of cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumors

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the cognitive decline in patients with primitive brain tumors. Material and methods: We enrolled in our study 188 patients diagnosed with brain tumors, hospitalized in the Clinic of Neurology Craiova between January 2006 and December 2010. Depending on the origin of the brain tumors the group was divided as follows: • Group A, composed of 45 patients with tumors of the meninges • Group B, composed of 105 patients with neuroepithelial tumors Each patient was evaluated by neurological and neuroimaging exam (computed tomography and/or nuclear magnetic resonance). For the evaluation of global disability we used Karnofsky Performance Status Scale. Cognitive function was assessed using: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The results were analyzed by Student’s T test, considering statistically significant p<0,05. Results: Statistical analysis, in terms of the average age and average years of education didn’t show significant differences between the two groups. Evaluation of the global functionality, using Karnofsky score, did not show significant differences between the two groups. On MMSE group A obtained an average score of 26,7 points, while in group B, the average score was 25,6 points. On MoCA scale there was, also, a statistically significant difference between the two groups; group A obtained an average score of 23,3 points and group B an average score of 20,3 points. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a statistically significant cognitive decline in patients with neuroepithelial tumors compared with patients diagnosed with tumors of the meninges.

Keywords

• brain tumors
• cognitive defi cits
• neuropsychological assessment