Neurocognitive impairment, employment, and social status in radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Background: Little is known of the cognitive functions, employment, and social status in adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (BT). We aimed to determine the long-term neurocognitive profile of radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood BT and the relationship between cognitive functions and employment and social status.

Methods: Neurocognitive profiles of survivors were assessed in a Finnish national cohort of 71 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BT (median follow-up time: 21 years [range: 5-33 years]) using a cross-sectional design.

Radiation-induced accelerated aging of the brain vasculature in young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Background: Cranial radiotherapy may damage the cerebral vasculature. The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence and risk factors of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in childhood brain tumors (CBT) survivors treated with radiotherapy.

Methods: Seventy CBT survivors who received radiotherapy were enrolled in a cross-sectional study at a median 20 years after radiotherapy cessation.

Radiation-Induced Meningiomas After Childhood Brain Tumor: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening Study.

Childhood brain tumors (CBTs) and their treatment increase the risk of secondary neoplasms (SNs). We studied the incidence of secondary craniospinal tumors with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening in a national cohort of survivors of CBT treated with radiotherapy, and we analyzed the Finnish Cancer Registry (FCR) data on SNs in survivors of CBT with radiotherapy registered as a part of the primary tumor treatment. A total of 73 survivors of CBT participated in the MRI study (mean follow-up of 19 ± 6.

Bone mineral density is compromised in very long-term survivors of irradiated childhood brain tumor.

Introduction: The increase in the number of childhood brain tumor survivors warrants detailed research to increase our knowledge regarding the possible physical and psychosocial adverse outcomes of tumor and tumor therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current bone health by measuring the bone mineral density (BMD) in irradiated, adult long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Material And Methods: We studied a national cohort of 74 adult survivors of childhood brain tumors treated with irradiation in Finland between 1970 and 2008.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Risk Factors and Impact on the Outcome in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated With Nordic Protocols.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been increasingly recognized as a clinicoradiological entity. Our aim was to describe the incidence of PRES in pediatric patients with ALL, identify its risk factors, and examine its prognostic importance. For this research, we conducted a systematic, retrospective review of the patient records in a population-based series of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=643) treated in Finland from 1992 to 2008.

Young patients with hematologic and lymphatic malignancies have an increased risk of hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background Skeletal complications such as osteonecrosis (ON) are potential adverse events in patients treated for cancer, especially in those treated for hematologic and lymphatic malignancies (HLMs). ON may damage the hip or knee joints and may lead to arthrosis requiring total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The aim of this study was to address the risk of TJA in patients with cancer, especially those treated for HLM, in a nationwide population-based setting.

Low depressive symptom and mental distress scores in adult long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Childhood cancer survivors are thought to be at risk of psychological difficulties. We examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms and mental well-being in adult long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at a mean age of 20 years after the cessation of therapy. Depressive symptoms were assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and mental distress with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) among 73 ALL survivors and 146 healthy controls.

High health-related quality of life among long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed in a cohort of long-term childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors.

Procedure: Rand-36-Item health Survey (RAND-36) was used to assess subjective HRQoL in 74 survivors of ALL an average of 20 years after the diagnosis. Cranial irradiation had been administered to 46 of the survivors, while 28 survivors had solely been treated with chemotherapy.

Progressive neurocognitive impairment in young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Despite the extensive literature on neuropsychological sequelae after treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the very-long-term neurocognitive outcome of the survivors is poorly studied. We assessed neuropsychological functioning in a population-based cohort of young adult childhood ALL survivors.

Procedure: Neuropsychological testing was performed on 64 survivors an average of 20 years after the diagnosis.

Osteonecrosis in children treated for lymphoma or solid tumors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the incidence of and clinical risk factors for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected osteonecrosis (ON) in children treated for lymphoma or solid tumors.

Patients And Methods: The development of ON was studied in 32 childhood cancer patients who underwent MRI scanning of the lower extremities at the end of their treatment. The underlying malignancy was Wilms tumor in 8 patients, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in 8, Hodgkin disease (HD) in 7, rhabdomyosarcoma in 6, and other occasional solid tumors in 3 patients.

Scholastic achievements of childhood leukemia patients: a nationwide, register-based study.

Purpose: Studies concerning the scholastic achievement of survivors of childhood leukemia have yielded controversial results. We studied the school marks of childhood leukemia survivors in a register-based study.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred seventy-one patients with a diagnosis of leukemia before the age of 16 years who were born between 1974 and 1986 and alive on their 16th birthday were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry.

High body mass index increases the risk for osteonecrosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of and clinical risk factors for radiographic osteonecrosis (ON) in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using the Nordic ALL protocols.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with childhood ALL were studied prospectively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lower extremities at the end of the treatment.

Results: Twenty-three (24%) of the 97 patients had ON.

Motor nervous system impairment persists in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: The objective of the current study was to determine whether therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) results in long-lasting neurologic signs or electrophysiologic injuries within the motor tracts.

Methods: Twenty-seven children who were treated for ALL were studied clinically 5 years after the cessation of therapy by means of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by magnetic stimulation transcranially and peripherally. An equal number of healthy children matched with regard to age, gender, and height served as the control group.