Motor and perceptual timing deficits among survivors of childhood leukemia.

OBJECTIVE

There is growing evidence of cerebellar-frontal system change in children treated for leukemia with chemotherapy alone (Lesnik et al., 1998).

METHODS

We compared 22 long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), aged 8-18, to 22 age- and gender-matched controls on tasks emphasizing cerebellar-frontal functioning including judgment of time duration and motor timing. Groups were also compared on a judgment of pitch task, used as a control measure. Children with ALL were at least 5 years from diagnosis, treated with intrathecal chemotherapy (methotrexate in all, hydrocortisone and cytarabine in 20/22), but not radiation therapy, and free from recurrence of disease.

RESULTS

After controlling for IQ, the ALL group had poorer performance than controls on judgment of long duration and motor timing, but not judgment of pitch.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with intrathecal and infusional chemotherapy for childhood ALL may be associated with skill deficits comparable to those seen in individuals with cerebellar-frontal abnormalities.