Survey on current cognitive practices within the European Low-Grade Glioma Network: towards a European assessment protocol

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica 2017-07, Vol.159 (7), p.1167-1178
• Main Authors: Rofes, Adrià, Mandonnet, Emmanuel, Godden, John, Baron, Marie Hélène, Colle, Henry, Darlix, Amelie, de Aguiar, Vânia, Duffau, Hugues, Herbet, Guillaume, Klein, Martin, Lubrano, Vincent, Martino, Juan, Mathew, Ryan, Miceli, Gabriele, Moritz-Gasser, Sylvie, Pallud, Johan, Papagno, Costanza, Rech, Fabien, Robert, Erik, Rutten, Geert-Jan, Santarius, Thomas, Satoer, Djaina, Sierpowska, Joanna, Smits, Anja, Skrap, Miran, Spena, Giannantonio, Visch, Evy, De Witte, Elke, Zetterling, Maria, Wager, Michel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assessment; Attention; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis; Brain Neoplasms - surgery; Brain research; Brain tumors; Clinical Medicine; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Collaboration; Diffuse low-grade glioma; Emotions; Europe; Glioma; Glioma - diagnosis; Glioma - surgery; Group dynamics; Humans; Interdisciplinary aspects; Interventional Radiology; Klinisk medicin; Language; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Neurosurgical Procedures - adverse effects; Neurosurgical Procedures - methods; Neurosurgical Procedures - standards; Original Article - Brain Tumors; Polls & surveys; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Preoperative Period; Protocol; Radiation therapy; Rehabilitation; Speech; Surgery; Surgical Orthopedics; Survey; Time measurement
• ISSN: 0001-6268; 0942-0940; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-017-3192-2

Background The European Low-Grade Glioma network indicated a need to better understand common practices regarding the managing of diffuse low-grade gliomas. This area has experienced great advances in recent years. Method A general survey on the managing of diffuse low-grade gliomas was answered by 21 centres in 11 European countries. Here we focused on specific questions regarding perioperative and intraoperative cognitive assessments. Results More centres referred to the same speech and language therapist and/or neuropsychologist across all assessments; a core of assessment tools was routinely used across centres; fluency tasks were commonly used in the perioperative stages, and object naming during surgery; tasks that tapped on attention, executive functions, visuospatial awareness, calculation and emotions were sparsely administered; preoperative assessments were performed 1 month or 1 week before surgery; timing for postoperative assessments varied; finally, more centres recommended early rehabilitation, whenever needed. Conclusions There is an emerging trend towards following similar practices for the management of low-grade gliomas in Europe. Our results are descriptive and formalise current discussions in our group. Also, they contribute towards the development of a European assessment protocol.