Longitudinal study on quality of life in 102 survivors of childhood craniopharyngioma

Objects: We longitudinally analysed functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) in 102 patients with a childhood craniopharyngioma during follow-up. Methods: The Fertigkeitenskala Munster-Heidelberg (FMH) ability scale was used for QoL assessment. Multivariate analysis evaluated FMH scores at various time points, examining hypothalamus involvement (HI), body mass index (BMI), degree of resection, tumour progression, relapse and irradiation. Results and conclusion: Patients without HI (n=60) self-assessed higher QoL at baseline (p=0.001) and follow-up (p < 0.001) than patients with HI (n=42). Only patients without HI evaluated at baseline > 12 months after diagnosis showed longitudinal improvement in FMH scores (p=0.040). Rates of incomplete resection and irradiation were higher (p=0.070 and p=0.002 respectively) in patients with HI. In multivariate analysis, only HI, tumour relapse, progression, baseline FMH score, and time between diagnosis and baseline evaluation had independent impact on QoL. HI, tumour progression, and relapse had long-term QoL affects-most notably, severe obesity.