Quality-of-life issues are important in this group of patients, and are difficult to assess due to various treatment modalities. Whereas intelligence quotient is usually maintained, behavioral issues and memory deficits attributed to the frontal lobe and hypothalamus are common, and occur in about 13% to 55% of patients in various series.[1] Other common problems include visual loss, obesity, and the almost universal need for life-long endocrine replacement with multiple pituitary hormones.

Refer to the PDQ summary on Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer for specific information about the incidence, type, and monitoring of late effects in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors.

References

1. Hoffman HJ, De Silva M, Humphreys RP, et al.: Aggressive surgical management of craniopharyngiomas in children. J Neurosurg 76 (1): 47-52, 1992.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

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