In a multicenter study the authors prospectively investigated neurocognitive function in childhood ALL patients. Sixty-six patients (mean age at diagnosis 7.9 +/- 3.6 years, 34 female), treated with repeated intrathecal and systemical methotrexate administrations without cranial irradiation, underwent psychometric testing for intelligence, concentration, and visual-motor integration postdiagnosis and after reinduction therapy. Although there was a statistically significant decline of intellectual function after reinduction therapy for younger patients and girls (IQ scores still within normative data range), there were no differences in visual-motor performance and concentration over the time of induction therapy. Thus, neurocognitive examination should focus on younger ALL patients and girls.
