The prognostic value of cognition in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

2078 Background: In patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progressive disease leads sooner or later to cognitive decline. In this study we evaluated if two cognitive assessments performed early in the treatment course have a prognostic significance for predicting progression free survival (PFS). Methods: We assessed the cognition of 35 patients with GBM using the program NeuroCogFX with four subscales: working memory, attention, verbal and figural memory and verbal fluency. Baseline evaluation was done at initiation of radiotherapy (11-57 days after diagnosis) and second evaluation three months later (82-117 days after baseline). Results in subscales were categorized in “declined”, “stable” and “improved”. Tumor progression was based on MRI scans. Results: The patients (12 women, 23 men) were in median 54 years old (21-75 years). The majority (61%) showed stable cognitive results, 22% improved and 14% decreased in the summary scale of cognition. The median PFS was 11 months (2.6-27.4 months). An imp...