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Updated: Feb 25, 2026
Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
Cognitive function and patient-reported memory problems after radiotherapy for cancers at the skull base: A
Chase C Hansen1,2, Joshua B Smith1,3, Abdallah S R Mohamed1,4
1Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Background:
Using patient-reported and objective assessment tools, we sought to quantify cognitive symptoms and objective cognitive dysfunction in patients irradiated for skull base cancer.
Methods:
Participants were assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck module (MDASI-HN), with subsequent analysis.
Results:
Of the 122 participants analyzed, the majority (63%) had no frank detectable cognitive impairment by TICS, with frank impairment in 6%. Overall, mean patient-reported problems with memory (MDASImemory ) was 3.3 (SD ±2.66). On recursive partition analysis, the MDASImemory cutoff point of ≥5 was associated with detectable cognitive impairment by TICS (logworth 1.69; P = .02), yet no MDASImemory threshold was associated with unambiguous absence of impairment by TICS.
Conclusion:
Approximately one third of patients had ambiguous results by TICS assessment, for whom more rigorous testing may be warranted. Moderate to severe levels of patient-reported memory complaints on the MDASI-HN module may have utility as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in this population.
