Abstract
Background: Using patient-reported and objective assessment tools, we sought to quantify cognitive symptoms and objective cognitive dysfunction in patients irradiated for skull base cancer. Methods: Participants were assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck module (MDASI-HN), with subsequent analysis. Results: Of the 122 participants analyzed, the majority (63%) had no frank detectable cognitive impairment by TICS, with frank impairment in 6%. Overall, mean patient-reported problems with memory (MDASImemory) was 3.3 (SD ±2.66). On recursive partition analysis, the MDASImemory cutoff point of ≥5 was associated with detectable cognitive impairment by TICS (logworth 1.69; P =.02), yet no MDASImemory threshold was associated with unambiguous absence of impairment by TICS. Conclusion: Approximately one third of patients had ambiguous results by TICS assessment, for whom more rigorous testing may be warranted. Moderate to severe levels of patient-reported memory complaints on the MDASI-HN module may have utility as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in this population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2048-2056 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2017 |
Keywords
- cognitive impairment
- memory
- radiotherapy
- skull base
- symptoms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology