Hydrocephalus as a possible additional contributor to cognitive outcome in survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between shunted hydrocephalus and intellectual, memory and academic functioning in a group of survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma. METHODS: Data from measures of cognitive, memory, academic and visual-motor functioning were gathered retrospectively from 35 survivors. Of these survivors, 10 (28.6%) required ventriculoperitoneal-shunt placement for hydrocephalus posttumor resection. RESULTS: Results revealed that participants with shunted hydrocephalus demonstrated significantly lower IQs, lower nonverbal intellectual functioning, lower academic skills in writing and math, and impairments in visual-motor abilities when compared with those without shunt. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need to explore other variables--in addition to radiation and chemotherapy--as risk factors for neurocognitive impairments in survivors. Furthermore, identification of physiological substrates underlying these deficits is needed.