Table 3.
Comparison of children’s neurocognitive dysfunction between proton beam therapy and photon irradiation.
| RT | PBT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authors | Patients | Total radiation dose [Gy] | Main results | Patients | Total radiation dose [Gy] | Main results |
| Mash et al. (2023) (27) |
10 | T: 53.4 | Reduction of white matter integrity Relative significantly lower of cognitive and motor functions (FSIQ, VCI, PRI, WMI) F group: relative significantly lower overall intelligence, verbal reasoning, visual-motor skills, motor coordination |
12 | 53.5 | No reduction of white matter integrity. No decrease in cognitive and motor functions (FSIQ, VCI, PRI, WMI) F group: no change in respect to overall intelligence, verbal reasoning, visual-motor skills, motor coordination |
| Child et al. (2021) (29) |
30 | F: 54.0 CSI: 54.0 |
F group: significant decrease concerning FSIQ, verbal and graphomotor switching, math, reading and writing fluency, processing spin, fine motor coordination CSI: significant impairments in motor skills, processing speed, attention and interpersonal relations, math, reading and writing fluency, processing spin, fine motor coordination |
58 | F: 50.4 CSI: 54.0 |
F group: math and writing fluency, processing spin, fine motor coordination CSI: significant decrease concerning FSIQ, verbal and graphomotor switching, math, reading and writing fluency, processing spin, fine motor coordination |
| Kahalley et al. (2020) (32) |
42 | T: 55.8 CSI: 23.4 |
Significant decrease in global IQ, working memory, and processing speed | 37 | T: 54.0 CSI: 23.4 |
Stable intellectual outcomes in most domains (IQ, perceptual reasoning, working memory),(even in the context of CSI) Processing speed: decrease over time |
| Gross et al. (2019) (33) |
67 | F: CSI: |
Relative lower full-scale IQ and processing speed, higher verbal IQ, and general adaptive function F group: relatively lower PSI CSI: relative lower VIQ, FSIQ/GAI |
58 | F: CSI: |
Relative higher full-scale IQ and processing speed, higher verbal IQ, and general adaptive functions F group: relatively higher PSI CSI: relative higher VIQ, FSIQ/GAI |
| Pulsifer et al. (2018) (36) |
60 | Processing speed and working memory skills were significantly lower at follow-up for patients treated with CSI, regardless of age. | 90 | 52.2 | Motor, social interaction, personal living, community living - no significant change in adaptive functioning was found after PRT, regardless of age or radiation field |
|
| Kahalley et al. (2016) (37) |
60 | T: 54.0 CSI: 23.4 |
IQ decreased by 1.1 points per year in the RT group. IQ was lower in the RT group (by 12.5 points) compared to the PBT group. | 90 | T: 54.0 CSI: 23.4 |
No change in IQ over time. |
CSI, craniospinal irradiation; F, focal; FSIQ, Full Scale Intelligence Quotient; GAI, General Ability Index; PRI, Perceptual Reasoning Index; PSI, Processing Speed Index; T, total; VCI, Verbal Comprehension Index; WMI, Working Memory Index.