Neurocognitive and neuroimaging markers of central nervous system damage in patients with the cerebral variant of postmastectomy syndrome

INTRODUCTION . Breast cancer is the leading oncological pathology in the female population. Active treatment, including surgery, chemo and radiation therapy, forms a set of disorders. Such complex of disorders is called postmastectomy syndrome. One of the neurological manifestations is the cerebral variant, characterized by impaired memory, attention, a feeling of “unclear” head, in some cases the development of fainting, balance disorders, strokes. Such manifestations reduce the quality of life and require early diagnosis and adequate correction. AIM. Assessment of the brain condition of patients with cerebral manifestations of postmastectomy syndrome using a battery of neurocognitive tests and magnetic resonance morphometry MATERIALS AND METHODS . An open single-center controlled trial was conducted with 86 patients with postmastectomy syndrome and 28 healthy female volunteers. A comprehensive assessment of the patients’ condition was carried out: neurological examination, neurocognitive testing, magnetic resonance morphometry. RESULTS . In women with postmastectomy syndrome, there was a statistically significant decrease in the speed of neurocognitive tests, as well as a decrease in the number of correct answers compared with the group of healthy volunteers. There was also a decrease in the volume of such brain structures as the cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, frontal, occipital, parietal lobes, thalamuses, and precentral gyri. CONCLUSION . In patients with the cerebral variant of postmastectomy syndrome, clinical and instrumental signs of damage to the central nervous system are determined. Good survival rates, as well as the high prevalence of neurological manifestations, create the need to create effective and accessible diagnostic strategies, as well as adequate and timely treatment.