BACKGROUND: Survival rates for children diagnosed with posterior fossa brain tumors (PFBTs) have improved significantly over the past several decades, and long-term functioning assessments have become priorities. These evaluations have occurred frequently in adults but only rarely in children. This study describes a cross-sectional assessment of physical functioning in pediatric survivors of PFBTs using the Bruininks-Osteretsky Test of Motor Performance, Second Edition (BOT-2). METHODS: Primary analyses compared BOT-2 scores to normative data using 1-sample t tests for each gross motor subscale (Bilateral Coordination, Balance, Running Speed/Agility, Strength) and motor-area composite (Body Coordination and Strength and Agility). Second, the cohort was stratified by diagnostic or treatment variables. Group differences and groups vs norms were evaluated using independent 2-sample and 1-sample t tests, respectively. Primary analyses compared BOT-2 scores with normative data using 1-sample t tests for each gross motor subscale (Bilateral Coordinationcoordination, Balance, Running Speed/Agility, Strength) and motor-area composite (Body Coordination and Strength and Agility). Second, the cohort was stratified by diagnostic or treatment variables. Group differences and groups vs norms were evaluated using independent 2-sample and 1-sample t tests, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age of 30 participants was 11.4 years (range, 4.9y-18.2y), and mean time from diagnosis was 6.1 years (range, 1.1y-16.7y). Cerebellar astrocytoma (43.3%) and medulloblastoma (40%) were the most common diagnoses. As a group, significantly decreased functioning, compared with norms, was observed in Balance (P < .001) and Running Speed/Agility (P = .005). Specifically in Balance, 21 (70%) participants performed below or well-below average. Participants with a non-astrocytoma performed significantly lower than norms in all areas, independent of age at diagnosis. Survivors with tumors infiltrating the vermis demonstrated significantly lower Body Coordination than norms (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric survivors of PFBTs demonstrated decreased physical functioning, most notably in Balance. These data underscore the need for further research and implementation of physical activity programs aimed specifically at approaches to minimize physical limitations.
BACKGROUND: Survival rates for children diagnosed with posterior fossa brain tumors (PFBTs) have improved significantly over the past several decades, and long-term functioning assessments have become priorities. These evaluations have occurred frequently in adults but only rarely in children. This study describes a cross-sectional assessment of physical functioning in pediatric survivors of PFBTs using the Bruininks-Osteretsky Test of Motor Performance, Second Edition (BOT-2). METHODS: Primary analyses compared BOT-2 scores to normative data using 1-sample t tests for each gross motor subscale (Bilateral Coordination, Balance, Running Speed/Agility, Strength) and motor-area composite (Body Coordination and Strength and Agility). Second, the cohort was stratified by diagnostic or treatment variables. Group differences and groups vs norms were evaluated using independent 2-sample and 1-sample t tests, respectively. Primary analyses compared BOT-2 scores with normative data using 1-sample t tests for each gross motor subscale (Bilateral Coordinationcoordination, Balance, Running Speed/Agility, Strength) and motor-area composite (Body Coordination and Strength and Agility). Second, the cohort was stratified by diagnostic or treatment variables. Group differences and groups vs norms were evaluated using independent 2-sample and 1-sample t tests, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age of 30 participants was 11.4 years (range, 4.9y-18.2y), and mean time from diagnosis was 6.1 years (range, 1.1y-16.7y). Cerebellar astrocytoma (43.3%) and medulloblastoma (40%) were the most common diagnoses. As a group, significantly decreased functioning, compared with norms, was observed in Balance (P < .001) and Running Speed/Agility (P = .005). Specifically in Balance, 21 (70%) participants performed below or well-below average. Participants with a non-astrocytoma performed significantly lower than norms in all areas, independent of age at diagnosis. Survivors with tumors infiltrating the vermis demonstrated significantly lower Body Coordination than norms (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric survivors of PFBTs demonstrated decreased physical functioning, most notably in Balance. These data underscore the need for further research and implementation of physical activity programs aimed specifically at approaches to minimize physical limitations.
Authors: Melissa M Hudson; Ann C Mertens; Yutaka Yasui; Wendy Hobbie; Hegang Chen; James G Gurney; Mark Yeazel; Christopher J Recklitis; Neyssa Marina; Leslie R Robison; Kevin C Oeffinger Journal: JAMA Date: 2003-09-24 Impact factor: 157.335
Authors: Kirsten K Ness; Gregory T Armstrong; Mondira Kundu; Carmen L Wilson; Tamara Tchkonia; James L Kirkland Journal: Cancer Date: 2014-12-19 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Fiona Schulte; Tara M Brinkman; Chenghong Li; Taryn Fay-McClymont; Deo Kumar Srivastava; Kirsten K Ness; Rebecca M Howell; Sabine Mueller; Elizabeth Wells; Douglas Strother; Lucie Lafay-Cousin; Wendy Leisenring; Leslie L Robison; Gregory T Armstrong; Kevin R Krull Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Myung Eun Oh; Pablo Hernáiz Driever; Rajiv K Khajuria; Stefan Mark Rueckriegel; Elisabeth Koustenis; Harald Bruhn; Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2016-10-26 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Mathieu Decock; Robin De Wilde; Ruth Van der Looven; Catharine Vander Linden Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-09 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Vanessa Rustler; Julia Däggelmann; Fiona Streckmann; Wilhelm Bloch; Freerk T Baumann Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-10-27 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Mitra Varedi; Lu Lu; Nicholas S Phillips; Robyn E Partin; Tara M Brinkman; Gregory T Armstrong; Emma Chase; Raja B Khan; Douglas Powell; Raymond F McKenna; Leslie L Robison; Melissa M Hudson; Kirsten K Ness Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2020-09-07 Impact factor: 4.442