Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After Brain Tumor Resection in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Brain tumors are one of the most common solid tumors in pediatric populations, with their treatments having significant neuropsychiatric impact. The objective of this study was to review the literature on neuropsychiatric sequelae after surgical resection of brain tumors in children and adolescents. Using a scoping method, we reviewed empirical articles describing pediatric patients with brain tumors who underwent partial or total resection and examined major neuropsychiatric domains postoperatively over time. The initial search yielded 15,543 articles. After duplicate removal, abstract screening, and review, 44 articles were included. Cognitive deficits were the most widely studied outcomes and found to be associated with tumor location, operative variables, perioperative complications, treatment types, and psychosocial factors. Cerebellar mutism, or posterior fossa syndrome, commonly co-occurred with emotional and behavioral dysregulation after posterior fossa resections. Depression, anxiety, and somatization were frequently grouped together as “distress,” with higher rates among pediatric patients with brain tumor than among healthy peers. Problematic school behaviors, antisocial, and attention-deficit traits were increased; however, several other behaviors (e.g., risky sexual behaviors, substance use) were equal or lower when compared to peers. Posttraumatic stress disorder was highly prevalent and often interfered with social functioning. Delirium, eating disorders, and longer-term outcomes received inadequate attention. Identifying risk factors of neuropsychiatric sequelae and their impact after pediatric brain tumor resection is important for prognostication and the development of tailored management strategies for these children and adolescents.