EPA-1136 – Cerebellar Cognitive – Affective Syndrome ccas in Children After Posterior Fossa Tumor Surgery

Abstract

Introduction:

Cerebellum was typically associated with human motor functions. However, the past two decades of research have brought an increased number of reports indicating a markedly more extensive function of the cerebellum that also includes cognitive processes. In 1997 Schmahmann and Sherman described the complex neuropsychological problems manifested by the patients with cerebellar damages, which they termed as cerebellar cognitive-affective syndrome’ (CCAS). It consists of: executive dysfunctions, visual-spatial problems, mood disturbances and language impairments. This syndrome was observed mainly in adult patients.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to describe the specificity of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome in children with cerebellar damage.

Material and method:

We examined 25 children after posterior fossa tumor surgery, mainly astrocytomas, treated at the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery University Hospital in Cracow, Poland. The children were assessed by neuropsychological age-appropriate tests: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Word fluency, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Digit Span WISC-R, Raven's Progressive Matrices Test, Benton Visual Retention Test.

Results:

The results of our research reveal the cognitive and emotional problems of children with cerebellar damages. We observed the executive dysfunctions, language and memory impairments, visual-spatial problems and emotional difficulties. The type of the cognitive impairments was significantly connected with the location of the cerebellar lesion.

Conclusions:

Cerebellum plays an important role in the cognitive and emotional development of the children.