Peer-reviewed article
QOL-11. COMPARISON OF TREATMENT BURDEN RATING SCALES ON NEUROCOGNITIVE OUTCOMES IN A MIXED SAMPLE OF PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR SURVIVORS
Baig M, Olsthoorn I, Yang G, Zaky W, Stavinoha P ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a clinical study comparing two rating scales (NPS and PNORTI) for predicting neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor survivors. The study analyzed 88 survivors' neuropsychological test results to see which scale better predicted IQ, working memory, and processing speed. The NPS scale showed some predictive value for younger patients but not older ones, while PNORTI showed no predictive value. The authors recommend future research to validate these scales against psychosocial outcomes and quality of life.
Key points
- NPS was associated with lower IQ, working memory, and processing speed in patients diagnosed before age 7
- NPS showed predictive value only for processing speed in children diagnosed after age 7
- PNORTI was not correlated with any neurocognitive outcomes in either age group
- Sample size was 88 pediatric brain tumor survivors
- The study suggests NPS may have clinical value for predicting long-term neurocognitive outcomes
Limitations
This is a retrospective analysis of a single small sample without longitudinal follow-up or external validation. The study cannot determine causality or generalize findings to broader populations of pediatric cancer survivors.
Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND Predicting neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor (PBT) patients is challenging. Rarity of PBT makes inclusion of detailed risk factors (e.g., treatment modality, intensity, individual complications) difficult when sample sizes are small. The Neurological Predictor Scale (NPS) summarizes complications and treatment factors associated with neurocognitive risks and has modest validation. Recently, the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Rating of Treatment Intensity (PNORTI) was developed to evaluate the impact of treatment intensity on psychosocial outcomes but has not been compared to neurocognitive outcomes. This study compared the NPS and PNORTI in terms of relationship to neurocognitive outcomes known to be at risk in PBT survivors. METHODS 88 PBT survivors’ neuropsychological outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in relation to the NPS and PNORTI. Variables of interest included IQ, working memory, and processing speed. RESULTS NPS associated with lower IQ (rs=-.476, p=.001), lower working memory (rs=-.323, p=.010), and lower processing speed (rs=-.389, p=.007) in patients diagnosed at a younger age, but only processing speed for children diagnosed after age 7 years (rs=-.262, p=.036). PNORTI was not correlated with neurocognitive variables for either group. CONCLUSION NPS has value in predicting neurocognitive outcomes, though much more in a younger age at diagnosis group compared to older patients. The PNORTI did not demonstrate predictive value for these neurocognitive domains in our sample. Given the potential clinical and research value of a summary rating of treatment burden relating to long-term outcome, future research should include relationship to psychosocial outcomes and quality of life.