Frontal lobe dysfunction in patients with non-frontal malignant gliomas: a monoaminergic dysregulation?

Previous investigations concerned with the neuropsychological function of patients with intracerebral supratentorial malignant gliomas has revealed the frequent occurrence of signs suggestive of an inhibitory frontal lobe dysfunction regardless of the intracerebral localization of the tumor and before the diagnosis was known to either the investigator or the patient. Upon closer analysis, the frontal lobe dysfunction has been verified by the demonstration of reduced blood flow in frontal areas in these patients. Since many of the findings can be related to a dysfunction of dopaminergic neurotransmission, we hypothesize that abnormal astrocytes interfere with the metabolism, transport and release of various neurotransmitters of which dopamine may be the one responsible for the most striking neuropsychological abnormalities in patients with malignant gliomas.