Who can enter
- Children who have been treated for a tumor in the posterior fossa (at least 6 months and up to 5 years after diagnosis)
- Age: 6-23 years
Goal
The goal of this study is to investigate the relation between cognitive performance and brain function. We want to learn about brain function in children who have been treated for a tumor in the posterior fossa by using a high magnetic field strength (7-Tesla or 7T MRI). This way we want to estimate who is most at risk of experiencing cognitive complaints in future.
Background
Children who have been treated for a brain tumor have an increased risk of experiencing cognitive complaints after treatment, such as difficulties with concentration and memory. These cognitive difficulties may be associated with changes in brain function or structure. However, these changes may not be detectable using typical neuroimaging techniques that are used for care.
In the current study, we want to examine the effect(s) of tumor treatment on brain function and its relationship to cognitive performance. Therefore a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner is used. In regular care, an MRI-scan with a magnetic field of 1.5T or 3T is used for checkups. To obtain detailed information of the brain function, we will use a stronger magnetic field (the 7T MRI scanner) in the current research. For the child the experience of this 7T MRI scan is comparable to that of a regular care MRI. In the future, these results will help clinicians to better understand, treat and eventually prevent cognitive complaints.
To investigate the relation between MRI parameters and cognitive complaints, this research is divided into two parts:
- 7T MRI scan
- Neuropsychological tasks. These are tasks in which the child is, for example, asked to concentrate, to remember something, or to solve puzzles.