Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

sensory or motor impairment. Numerous batteries of tests arebeing used in clinical practice to evaluate neurocognitive andpsychological function. Among them, Wechsler Intelligentscoring system (WISC), Bhatia Scoring system and VitobaPaknikar (VP) in blind patients are commonly used in India.Intelligent quotient (IQ) is described as global IQ (GQ) orfull scale IQ (FSIQ), performance IQ (PQ), memory IQ (MQ)and verbal IQ (VQ). These IQ scores are assessed by differentverbal questionnaire and performance domain. In childrenbelow 16 years, FSIQ, PQ and VQ are assessed as theneuropsychological battery where as in adults additional MQis also assessed. Total score depends upon the task performedand total time taken. Neurocognitive function is assessed byLOTCA (Lowenstein Occupational Therapy CognitiveAssessment) battery of test. LOTCA is a direct observationaland verbal communication method of assessment.Majority of neurocognitive function assessment data areobtained from either whole brain RT or CSI and hadshown deterioration of function after RT. However, thesedata were obtained from studies which used mostlytelecobalt machine and suboptimal radiation techniques.Thus, neuropsychological function should be evaluatedin the light of modern RT techniques and newerassessment tools.Intelligence quotient (IQ) measurement is benchmarkfor measurement of changes in cognitive function.Declines in IQ are mostly as a result of failure to learn ata rate that is appropriate for the age of the child, ratherthan from a loss of previously acquired knowledge.A significant number of children and young adults mayexhibit low IQ levels even before starting RT suggestingother factors such as tumour, surgery etc to be responsibleas well (Carpentieri 2003; Jalali 2007)346