LONG-TERM-MEMORY DEFICITS IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMAS

Knowledge about the neuropsychological performance of adult patients w ith brain tumors, and especially with malignant gliomas, is limited. I n this study 30 patients were consecutively included at time of diagno sis. Five months after completion of radiotherapy eleven of the patien ts showed no signs of focal neurology or tumor recurrence. These eleve n patients, and their partners, were interviewed independently. Using each partner as control the patients were assessed neuropsychologicall y with special emphasis on memory abilities. The selective reminding t echnique was used with nouns of different visual imagery. A consistent pattern was found: there was no clear impairment in global intellectu al abilities, but there was a pronounced deficit in long-term memory. However, the patients had a preserved capacity to use visual imagery t o boost performance. It is important that medical staff acknowledge or confirm this problem. The sparing of imaginal coding makes it possibl e for the staff to assist with advice facilitating memory. Memory is a vital cognitive ability and the selective reminding technique was a s ensitive method capable of detecting subtle impairments. The technique is recommended in future examinations of conditions and evaluations o f treatments affecting the CNS.