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Neurocognitive Function Surrounding the Resection of Frontal WHO Grade I Meningiomas: A Prospective Matched-Control
Philipp Hendrix1, Elisa Hans1, Christoph J Griessenauer2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland University Faculty of Medicine, Homburg (Saar), Germany.
Objective:
Patients with intracranial meningiomas can experience neurocognitive dysfunctions in specific cognitive domains depending on tumor location and size. The literature regarding cognitive function surrounding the resection of frontal meningiomas is sparse.
Methods:
We performed a prospective matched-control study to investigate the cognitive performance of frontal meningioma patients undergoing resection. The neurocognitive status 1 week and 2 months after resection was compared with the preoperative status and matched-controls. Matching was performed for age, sex, handedness, education, and profession. An extensive test battery was used to assess perceptual speed, executive function, visual-spatial and verbal working memory, short- and long-term memory, verbal fluency, fluid intelligence, anxiety, and depression.
Results:
Twelve patients with frontal World Health Organization grade I meningioma and 12 matched-controls underwent cognitive testing. Macroscopically, complete removal was achieved in all cases. Comparison of patients and controls revealed significant cognitive impairments in perceptual speed, executive function, short-term memory, and verbal fluency preoperatively and postoperatively. At 2 months' follow-up, perceptual speed and verbal fluency were still significantly impaired, whereas executive function and short-term memory were equal to that in the control group. None of the patients experienced cognitive deterioration after surgical therapy.
Conclusion:
Patients with frontal meningiomas display preoperative and postoperative deficits in perceptual speed, executive function, short-term memory, and verbal fluency. The risk for cognitive deterioration owing to surgical resection is low. Within the first two months after surgery, executive function and short-term memory appear to recover.
