Neurological sequelae

Retrospective studies have shown that long-term survivors of SCLC (>2 years from the start of treatment) have a high incidence of CNS impairment.[29,32,36-38] Prospective studies have shown that patients treated with PCI do not have significantly worse neuropsychological function than patients not treated with PCI.[38] Most patients with SCLC have neuropsychological abnormalities before the start of PCI and have no detectable neurological decline for as long as 2 years after the start of PCI.[38] Patients treated for SCLC continue to have declining neuropsychological function after 2 years from the start of treatment.[36-38] Additional neuropsychological testing of patients beyond 2 years from the start of treatment is needed before concluding that PCI does not contribute to the decline in intellectual function.