ABSTRACT

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (Ccs) are at risk for cognitive late-effects, which might result from cortical alterations, even if cancer does not affect the brain. The study aimed to examine gray and white matter volume and its relationship to cognition. Methods: Forty-three Ccs of non-central nervous system cancers and 43 healthy controls, aged 7–16 years, were examined. Cognitive functions and fine motor coordination were assessed and T1-weighted images were collected for voxel-based morphometry. Results: Executive functions (p = .024, d = .31) were poorer in Ccs than controls, however still within the normal range. The volume of the amygdala (p = .011, ŋ² = .117) and the striatum (p = .03, ŋ² = .102) was reduced in Ccs. No significant structure–function correlations were found, neither in patients nor controls. Conclusion: Non-CNS childhood cancer and its treatment impacts on brain structures relevant to emotion processing.

摘要

背景：儿童癌症幸存者（Ccs）处于认知后期影响的风险中，即使癌症不影响大脑，也可能由皮层变化引起。该研究旨在检验灰白色物质的体积及其与认知的关系。方法：检查了43名非中枢神经系统癌的Ccs和43名7至16岁的健康对照。评估认知功能和精细运动协调，并收集T1加权图像用于基于体素的形态测量。结果：Ccs的执行功能（p = .024，d = .31）比对照组差，但仍在正常范围内。杏仁核的体积（p = 0.011，ŋ ² =  0.117）和纹状体（p = 0.03，ŋ ²  =  0.102）在CCS中减少。在患者和对照组中均未发现明显的结构-功能相关性。结论：非中枢神经系统儿童期癌症及其治疗对与情绪加工有关的脑结构的影响。