A dramatic loss of non-verbal intelligence following a right parietal ependymoma: brief case report

Virtually all reports on the effects of focal brain lesions upon specific neuropsychological functions are based upon estimates of cognitive loss in persons following a lesion, without proof of premorbid capacity. This report presents the case of a 19-year-old left-handed male with assessment of Verbal and Performance I.Q. testing 1 year prior to a subsequent brain tumor for reasons unrelated to the neoplasm. The patient was then re-tested 23 months later, following the diagnosis and treatment of a supratentorial ependymoma in the right parietal region. His multi-modal treatment regimen included a partial surgical resection of the tumor, cranio-spinal irradiation with focal boost to the primary site, and chemotherapy. Results demonstrate a striking 58-point decline in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised (WAIS - R) Performance I. Q. with no significant change in Verbal I.Q. These findings clearly document the important cognitive functions associated with the right parietal lobe.