Hydrocephalus as a possible additional contributor to cognitive outcome in survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between shunted hydrocephalus and intellectual, memory and academic functioning in a group of survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma. Methods: Data from measures of cognitive, memory, academic and visual-motor functioning were gathered retrospectively from 35 survivors. Of these survivors, 10 (28.6%) required ventriculoperitoneal-shunt placement for hydrocephalus posttumor resection. Results: Results revealed that participants with shunted hydrocephalus demonstrated significantly lower IQs, lower nonverbal intellectual functioning, lower academic skills in writing and math, and impairments in visual-motor abilities when compared with those without shunt. Conclusions: These results highlight the need to explore other variables-in addition to radiation and chemotherapy-as risk factors for neurocognitive impairments in survivors. Furthermore, identification of physiological substrates underlying these deficits is needed. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.