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Visual attention in long-term survivors of leukemia receiving cranial radiation therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2004

JEFFREY SCHATZ ,
JOEL H. KRAMER ,
ARTHUR R. ABLIN  and
KATHERINE K. MATTHAY
JEFFREY SCHATZ
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia
JOEL H. KRAMER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Francisco Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco
ARTHUR R. ABLIN
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco Children's Cancer Program, University of California at San Francisco
KATHERINE K. MATTHAY
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco Children's Cancer Program, University of California at San Francisco
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Abstract

The effect of cranial radiation therapy (CRT) on visual attention was examined in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared to peers with no history of ALL (n = 24) using a cued orienting task and a global–local task. ALL participants treated with CRT (n = 13) demonstrated an increased cost in response time with invalid spatial orienting cues and inefficient shifts of attention across hierarchical levels. ALL participants treated only with chemotherapy (n = 8) showed performance similar to the non-ALL comparison group. Participants with exposure to CRT early in life appeared to largely account for the attention deficits, and showed particular difficulties with shifting attention from the local level of stimuli to the global level. The data are consistent with prior reports emphasizing attention deficits following CRT, and suggest that attention shifting may be particularly affected by CRT early in life. (JINS, 2004, 10, 211–220.)

Keywords

Late effectsLeukemiaAttentionCranial radiation therapy (CRT)Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , March 2004 , pp. 211 - 220
Copyright
© 2004 The International Neuropsychological Society

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