Late effects of radiotherapy on patients with cerebellar medulloblastoma

Abstract

Nine long-term survivors of cerebellar medulloblastoma treated with surgery and irradiation were retrospectively examined with a complete battery of neuropsychological tests and the results compared with their nonirradiated siblings. Significant decreased scores were found in the full-scale intelligence quotients (IQ) (P < 0.001), performance IQ (P < 0.001), and verbal IQ (P P < 0.01). Most severely affected were those children younger than 8 years at time of irradiation. No correlation was found with whole-brain dose, or objective physical or neurologic findings.