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Published on: October 18, 2011
[Prospective longitudinal study on the evolution of autobiographical memory in patients irradiated for benign skull
1Service de radiothérapie, hôpital Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France.
Purpose:
Cranial irradiation can lead to long-term neurological complications, in particular memory disorders. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the impact of irradiation of benign skull base tumours located near the hippocampi on autobiographical memory.
Patients And Methods:
From 2016 to 2019, patients with cavernous sinus meningioma or pituitary adenoma treated with normofractionated irradiation were included. Patients underwent full neuropsychological assessment at baseline, 1year and 2years post-treatment. Neuropsychological tests were converted to Z-Score for comparability.
Results:
Twelve of the 19 patients included had a complete neuropsychological evaluation at 2years and were analysed. On the "TEMPau" test, no significant difference in autobiographical memory was found at 2years, regardless of the period of autobiographical memory. The mean hippocampal dose had no impact on the variation in autobiographical memory. There was no significant cognitive impairment in the other domains assessed, such as attention, anterograde memory, working memory and executive functions. Autobiographical memory was independent of these other cognitive domains, which justifies its specific study.
Conclusion:
Radiotherapy to the skull base for a benign pathology does not lead to significant cognitive impairment. Longer follow-up would be needed to confirm these results.
