Table 3.
Distribution of Neurological Predictor Scale components and their contribution to total NPS scores.
| Neurological Predictor Scale components | Score contribution | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Post surgical complicationsa | ||
| Hearing impairment | ||
| None | 0 | 26 (72.22 %) |
| Present | 1 | 10 (27.78 %) |
| Visual impairment | ||
| None | 0 | 19 (52.78 %) |
| Present | 1 | 17 (47.22 %) |
| Motor deficits | ||
| None | 0 | 16 (44.44 %) |
| Present | 1 | 20 (55.56 %) |
| Cranial nerve deficit | ||
| None | 0 | 30 (83.33 %) |
| Present | 1 | 6 (16.67 %) |
| Hydrocephalus requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversionb | ||
| None | 0 | 7 (19.44 %) |
| Present | 1 | 29 (80.56 %) |
| Surgery countc | ||
| None | 0 | 0 (0 %) |
| Biopsy | 1 | 3 (8.33 %) |
| Neurosurgery | 2 | 27 (75.00 %) |
| More than one biopsy and surgery | 3 | 6 (16.67 %) |
| Chemotherapy exposure | ||
| None | 0 | 17 (42.22 %) |
| Received | 1 | 19 (52.78 %) |
| Radiation exposured | ||
| None | 0 | 17 (42.22 %) |
| Focal | 1 | 0 (0 %) |
| Whole brain or craniospinal | 2 | 0 (0 %) |
| Whole brain or craniospinal with boost | 3 | 19 (52.78 %) |
Note. Treatment burden was indexed using components of the Neurological Predictor Scale (NPS; Micklewright et al., 2008) and post-surgical indicators derived from medical record review.
Post-surgical complications include hearing impairment; visual impairment (diplopia or nystagmus); motor deficits (ataxia, dysmetria, or hemiparesis); and cranial nerve deficits (cranial nerve palsy) identified on neurological examination.
Hydrocephalus requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversion includes ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement or endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
Surgery count reflects the number of tumour-directed neurosurgical procedures (none, biopsy or biopsy only, one neurosurgery, more than one neurosurgery).
Radiation exposure was coded as none, focal radiation, whole-brain or craniospinal radiation, or whole-brain or craniospinal radiation with an additional focal boost.