Memory and learning sequelae in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Association with attention deficits

Journal Article · · American Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043426-199022000-00009· OSTI ID:6553166

Brouwers, P; Poplack, D ^[1]

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1. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA)

A systematic study of verbal and nonverbal memory and learning was undertaken in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia to assess the incidence and pattern of impairments and to determine the relationship between these deficits and computed tomography (CT) brain scan abnormalities. Twenty-three children who had received cranial irradiation (2,400 cGy) and intrathecal chemotherapy as central nervous system (CNS) preventive therapy and who were off all therapy for at least 4 years were evaluated. On the basis of their CT brain scan findings, patients were divided into three groups: those with intracerebral calcifications (n = 5), those with cortical atrophy (n = 8), and those with normal CT findings (n = 10). Significant deficits in verbal memory (p less than 0.025) and verbal learning (p less than 0.05) were observed that were associated with the presence and type of CT brain scan abnormalities; the greatest impairments were observed in patients with calcifications. No significant differences between CT scan groups were found for nonverbal memory and learning. Previous evaluation of attentional processing in these patients using reaction time tests had revealed the presence of deficits primarily in the ability to sustain attention. Combining those data with findings from the present study showed that memory impairments, particularly those in short-term memory, were primarily attributable to an underlying attentional defect that affect the encoding stage of memory processing.

• OSTI ID: 6553166
• Journal Information: American Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; (USA) Vol. 12:2; ISSN 0192-8562; ISSN APHOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHILDREN
COMBINED THERAPY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
HEMIC DISEASES
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
LEARNING
LEUKEMIA
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
TOMOGRAPHY