Avaliação neuropsicológica pré cirurgia de pacientes com tumor cerebral

Abstract

Brain tumors (CT) are explained by the marked abnormal multiplication of cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS). This present study aims to perform a pre-neurosurgery neuropsychological evaluation using cognitive and behavioral/emotional instruments. This is a descriptive, correlational and quantitative study. Twenty-six adults aged M=49.2 6± 11 85 diagnosed with brain tumors were investigated. Neuropsychological evaluations were performed in the week prior to neurosurgery. The correlations of the present study indicated significance levels between histology and immediate verbal memory (RAVLT A6) p=0.018, delayed verbal memory (RAVLT A7) p=0.014, inhibitory control p=0.013 and phonetic verbal fluency (F.A.S.), p= 0.015. The HAD scale indicative of depression, also showed levels of significance in RAVLT A2 (p=0.041), immediate visual memory (p=0.017) and anxiety HAD, (p=0.002). According to the data regarding the histology of the participants in this study, the most prevalent malignant CTs, in terms of topography, are located with greater incidence in the temporal/frontal regions, which has a significant impact on verbal memory and executive functions, as well as the presence of depressive and anxious symptoms, which may be linked to the individual's performance during the evaluation process, as this study shows, the higher the levels of anxiety and depression, the worse the memory construct. In view of this, the neuropsychological findings show lower performance in the constructs verbal memory, executive functions and attentional skills, in addition to the presence of anxious symptoms. The study demonstrated the importance of subjecting this population of patients to neuropsychological evaluation before treatment so that the detailed results obtained can direct treatment more effectively, minimizing possible functional consequences for the patient.