Location May Not Affect IQ and Adaptive Outcome in Pediatric Cerebellar Tumors D.W. Beebe, M.D. Ris, and E. Holmes

1. Location May Not Affect IQ and Adaptive Outcomein Pediatric Cerebellar TumorsD.W. Beebe, M.D. Ris, and E. Holmes Three recent studies suggested that pediatric cerebellar tumors result in neuropsychological impairment, even in cases of surgical treatment without radiation or chemotherapy. These studies further suggested that tumor location (vermis �v- hemispheric) affects outcome. However, sample sizes have been small (ns=7, 19 & 26) and referral biases may have affected the results. The present study examines the intellectual and adaptive outcomes of 96 children who underwent surgical resection for low-grade cerebellar astrocytomas as part of national collaborative research projects (CCG 9891/POG 9130). Children were classified based upon tumor location: vermal (n=37), mixed vermal-hemispheric (19), right hemispheric (22), and left hemispheric (18). Data on intellectual ability, academic skills, and adaptive functioning were prospectively gathered within one year of surgery, as were medical records of pre-, peri-, and post-surgical medical complications. Despite demographics that would favor positive functioning (81% White, median parent ed.=14 yrs), mean scores were significantly below average on most measures of intellectual, academic and adaptive outcome (10 of 15 ps<.05, 6 of 15 ps<.005). However, intellectual, academic, and adaptive outcomes were not associated with tumor location (13 of 15 ps>.05, no p<.01), nor were these variables associated with pre-, peri-, or post-surgical complications (44 of 45 ps>.05, no p<.01). Thus, despite a large sample size and evidence of impairment, we did not find an association between cerebellar tumor location or complications and intellectual and adaptive outcome. However, definitive conclusions await further large-scale studies involving specialized neuropsychological measures.