Cognitive Event-Related Potentials in Patients With Adenoid Hypertrophy: A Case-Control Pilot Study

Children with adenoid hypertrophy commonly have sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with various neurocognitive problems. The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive function in those patients using cognitive event-related potentials.

Twenty-three patients with moderate to severe adenoid hypertrophy were compared with 20 healthy controls. The intelligence quotient was performed for all study participants. The latencies of the N200, P300 peaks and the amplitudes of the N200/P300 components of event-related potentials were recorded. The above variables were measured at baseline for both patients and control groups and 2 months after adenoidectomy for the patient group.

There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding full intelligence quotient scales. P300 latency was significantly prolonged in patient group compared with the healthy controls. Moreover, postoperative P300 latency was significantly reduced compared with the preoperative P300 latency. Postoperative P300 latency was not statistically different from healthy controls' data.

P300 latency delay may reflect some sort of cognitive impairment in patients with adenoid hypertrophy. This delay was reversible after adenoidectomy. Event-related potentials may help for assessment of cognitive functions in patients with adenoid hypertrophy.