All issues > Volume 34(12); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(12):1683-1688. Published online December 31, 1991.

The effects of 1800 vGy cranial irradiation on intellectual function of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Soo Ho Ahn¹, Jeong Ok Hah¹, Jung Hoon Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
²Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea

Received: May 9, 1991;  Accepted: August 31, 1991.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of CNS prophylaxis with 1800 cGy cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy on intellectual function of the chil- dren with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Thirteen longterm survivors with ALL who were treated with 1800 cGy cranial irradiation and intrathecal MTX for CNS prophylaxis at pediatric department of Yeungnam University Hospital from May, 1983 to November, 1988 were studied. The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children were administered to these patients and to a sample of their healthy siblings, who served as a control group. The mean Full Scale IQ was 100.8 for the patients and 100.5 for the sibling controls. The mean Verbal Scale IQ was 98.0 for the patients, 99.1 for the sibling controls and the mean Performance Scale IQ was 103.2 for the patients, 102.0 for the sibling controls. These data suggest that CNS prophylaxis with 1800 cGy cranial irradiation and intrathecal MTX chemotherapy on intellectual fuction as compared to 2400 cGy cranial irradiation, have no significant deleterious effect on the intellectual function of the children with ALL.

Keywords :Cranial irradiation;Intellectual function Acute lymphocytic leukemia;CNS prophylaxis;Intrachecal methotrexate