Neuropsychological rehabilitation in children with central nervous system tumors and irradiated leukemias

Abstract

Nowadays, intervention and research in pediatric psychooncology is leading towards evaluation of neoplastic disease and treatment consequences, as well as predictive factors of adaptative aspects related to disease and family. High rates of survival in pediatric oncology imply an important number of pediatric cancer survivors, whose psychological and neuropsychological evaluation is crucial to determine long term sequelae. Quality of survival has also improved considerably due to improvements in supportive treatment along years, decreasing acute side effects. This fact as well as early intervention by multidisciplinary teams let the child continue his/her daily activities, even during oncologic treatment. In the last decade, several studies have shown the absence of significative differences between cancer patients and their peers, as far as social functioning is concerned. Nevertheless, patients with brain tumors and leukemias treated with radiotherapy/intrathecal chemotherapy are a risk group that required a specific evaluation and treatment.