NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC LATE EFFECTS IN CHILDREN WITH MALIGNANT BRAIN-TUMORSTREATED WITH SURGERY, RADIOTHERAPY AND 8-IN-1 CHEMOTHERAPY

Sixty-eight children with malignant brain tumors were treated with the ''8 in 1'' chemotherapy protocol from 1986 to 1993 in Finland. The ov erall 5-year survival rate was 43%. Thirty-one children are still aliv e and tumor-free, and have been evaluated in the present study. Of the se 31 children, 26% had hemi- or tetraplegia, 13% intractable seizures , and 30% attend special schools. The mean full scale (FS) IQ was 85 ( range 45-138), 24%, had an FSIQ value less than 70, and 36% more than 90. One-half of the survivors were placed in Bloom's group I or IE, ar e able to lead an active life, and have only mild neurologic disabilit ies. In the other, neurologic late complications accumulated and these children were relegated to Bloom's group III or IV, with major disabi lities such as hemiplegia, intractable epilepsy or mental retardation. The most important prognostic factors were severe perioperative compl ications, young age at diagnosis, and cranial irradiation.