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[Parasitic diseases in pediatric cancer patients].

Parasitic infections are rare events in pediatric oncology. Transmission routes and diseases of most parasites do not differ significantly from those seen in otherwise healthy children. However, latent asymptomatic infections with Cryptosporidium spp., Leishmania spp., Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxoplasma gondii might exacerbate during immunosuppression. Screening in asymptomatic patients is often unsuccessful due to the low sensitivity of available assays except in toxoplasmosis. This article provides the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI) and the German Society for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (GPOH) for the appropriate diagnostic procedures and antiparasitic treatment immunocompromised patients.

Adolescent↗

The surgical management of metastases in pediatric cancer.

A significant proportion of children presenting with pediatric solid tumors will have disease distant from the primary site at diagnosis while still more will develop metastases. In this article an appropriate role for the surgical oncologist was determined by extracting surgical and survival data from the literature. It is concluded that aggressive pulmonary metastasectomy is indicated in metastatic osteogenic sarcoma but not in most embryonal soft tissue sarcomas. Wilms' tumor pulmonary metastases are probably best treated by chemotherapy and whole-lung irradiation except for very young children with solitary or localized metastases. However, resection of hepatic metastases from Wilms' tumor may result in long-term disease-free survival. Finally, available data support resection of hepatoblastoma metastases to lung. Surgery maintains an important role in the treatment of metastatic disease but surgeons must remain objective in the reporting and interpretation of results.

Child↗

Dental care of the pediatric cancer patient.

Although the rate for childhood cancer has remained relatively stable for the past 2 decades, there have been drastic declines in mortality due to early diagnosis and improvements in therapy. Now over 75% of children diagnosed with cancer survive more than 5 years. The pediatric dental professional plays an important role in the prevention, stabilization, and treatment of oral and dental problems that can compromise the child's health and quality of life before, during, and after the cancer treatment. This manuscript discusses recommendations for the dental care of the pediatric oncology patient.

Child↗

Painful procedures in pediatric cancer. A comparison of interventions.

Different interventions (i.e., cognitive-behavioral, pharmacological) and their combination were examined and compared to assist pediatric patients with cancer to manage distress during painful procedures. Findings revealed that cognitive protocols are effective in relieving procedural distress for a significant number of children. Pharmacological therapies were found to be relatively safe and effective when carefully administered and monitored by medical personnel. Data from combined cognitive therapies and pharmacological interventions, particularly those more recent pharmacological interventions, reveal generally mixed results, with both types of interventions yielding distinct benefits and disadvantages. Recommendations are made for future studies that match interventions to specific characteristics of the children for whom they are intended, as well as additional studies that combine pharmacological approaches together with cognitive techniques.

Adolescent↗

Delivering long-term follow-up care to pediatric cancer survivors: transitional care issues.

One of the major challenges faced by young adult survivors of childhood cancer is the transition from a specialized pediatric care facility to adult-based health care that provides appropriate follow-up. This review summarizes the issues regarding the necessity of this transition, including a brief history of follow-up care of childhood cancer survivors. The general principles of transition care, as well as the barriers and obstacles specific to this population are outlined with the advantages and limitations of several models of transition care that could be considered.

Adolescent↗

Piperacillin, beta-lactam inhibitor plus gentamicin as empirical therapy of a sequential regimen in febrile neutropenia of pediatric cancer patients.

The beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations are a good choice for empirical antimicrobial therapy in febrile neutropenic patients, because their antibacterial spectra include both gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens. This trial was initiated to assess the efficacy and safety of piperacillin with the beta-lactam inhibitors sulbactam (PSG group) or tazobactam (PTG group) and gentamicin as initial therapy in febrile neutropenia of pediatric patients. In a prospective study, 239 episodes of fever and neutropenia were analyzed for the clinical and microbiological response dependent on infection etiology and treatment group: 66.5% of episodes were classified as fever of unknown origin (FUO) and 33.5%, as microbiologically or clinically documented infections; 19.2% of all episodes were due to bacteremia, predominantly caused by gram-positive organisms (69.6%). The response to the initial therapy was 55.2% overall and 65.4% in episodes of FUO with a significant higher success rate in the PSG group than in the PTG group (70.1% vs. 52.4%, P=0.039), and 35.0% in documented infections. In episodes with documented infection longer duration of fever and antimicrobial therapy was recorded than for FUO episodes. Four patients died of causes related to infection. Fever relapse occurred in 26 episodes (11.1%), predominantly in patients who were still neutropenic. Toxic side effects were minimal. The initial therapy of piperacillin with sulbactam or tazobactam in combination with gentamicin is well tolerated, and its efficacy is comparable to that of other combination therapies or of monotherapy with beta-lactam antibiotics in pediatric neutropenic cancer patients.

Adolescent↗

[Diagnosis and management of central nervous system infections in pediatric cancer patients].

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are a common cause of neurological abnormalities in pediatric oncology patients apart from cancer disease of the CNS. Often symptoms do not present unequivocally, impeding a clear distinction from other differential diagnosis. Repeated neurological examinations of the patient allow selecting the necessary laboratory tests and imaging techniques. As delayed antiinfectious treatment is associated with high mortality and severe sequelae of survivors, patients do need empirical therapy using adequate doses until diagnostic results allow a more specific treatment. This article provides the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI) and the German Society for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (GPOH) for diagnosis and treatment of infections of the CNS in immunocompromised patients.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Ongoing clinical studies of ifosfamide for pediatric cancer in the United States.

This article gives highlights of ongoing pediatric solid tumor and leukemia trials in the United States that use ifosfamide in combination with mesna. These trials are being carried out both by large cooperative groups and single institutions. Some role for ifosfamide with mesna in the front-line treatment of sarcomas is assured. Neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and other unusual toxicities are discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Use of abdominal computed tomography for identifying disseminated fungal infection in pediatric cancer patients.

Disseminated fungal infection (DFI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among immunosuppressed patients with cancer. To determine the role of abdominal computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and management of DFI, we studied the records of patients treated in a pediatric oncology center over an 11-year period. A total of 35 children had CT findings compatible with fungal abscesses in the liver, spleen, and/or kidneys and had fungal infection confirmed by culture, biopsy, or at autopsy. Patients were treated with antifungal agents (median duration of treatment, 57 days) until fever resolved and repeated CT scans demonstrated that the lesions had disappeared, regressed, or stabilized. The 3-month survival rate was 86%. An additional 29 patients with similar characteristics and risk factors had characteristic CT findings, but DFI was not documented with other procedures. These patients were empirically treated for presumed DFI; their courses and outcomes were similar to those for patients with documented DFI. These results suggest that it is reasonable to make a presumptive diagnosis of DFI for patients with characteristic CT findings and clinical features. With appropriate therapy, the prognosis for pediatric patients with cancer and documented or presumed DFI is good.

Abdomen↗

Psychosocial adjustment among pediatric cancer patients: a multidimensional assessment.

Identified types and frequencies of psychological difficulties manifested by pediatric oncology patients and child-, family-, and illness-related correlates of adjustment. Parents of 48 children with cancer, 4 to 17 years of age, completed the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Analysis of mean PIC scores indicated that the children had a high frequency of somatic concerns and problems in academic functioning. Similar mean PIC profiles were obtained for children across gender, age, and diagnostic groups. Overall, 52% of the children had profiles with two or more clinically significant problem areas. Children's adjustment was associated with gender, social competence, and parental coping. Boys exhibited significantly more problems than did girls. Children whom teachers rated as less socially competent and whose parents reported few effective coping responses exhibited greater difficulties in adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Siblings of pediatric cancer patients: the quantitative and qualitative nature of quality of life.

This study used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess the pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in siblings (n = 77) of cancer patients attending summer camp. On quantitative measures (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) parent and child versions), siblings reported statistically significant improvements in HRQOL from pre-to post camp. The parent sample, as a whole, did not report a statistically significant improvement in the siblings' HRQOL; however, statistically significant improvements were found when the analysis controlled for the responses of bereaved parents. On the qualitative measures (Sibling Qualitative Interview and Camp Okizu Satisfaction Surveys), both children and parents described the positive impact of camp. Using grounded theory, we identified the major themes and found that the positive emotional and social experiences captured by the quotes were paralleled in the quantitative findings of improved HRQOL in psychosocial domains on the PedsQL. These findings suggest the beneficial effects of camp as a psychological intervention and illustrate the value of integrating quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches in research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Childhood cancer incidence in the south-east of France. A report of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica Regions Pediatric Cancer Registry, 1984-1991.

A prospective registration of incident cancers in childhood in two south-east regions of France since 1 January 1984 allows us to collect pertinent data on 875 cases throughout a period of 8 years. World age-standardised overall incidence rate is 137.63 cases/million/year. It is close to that reported in other white European. North American and Oceanian populations. The age-adjusted (age-standardised) relative frequency of each pathological group is: leukaemias 29.71%; central nervous system tumours 20.61%; lymphomas 12.75%; sympathetic tumours 9.03%; soft tissues tumours 7.37%; bone tumours 5.89%; kidney tumours 4.82%; epithelial tumours 3.83%; germinal and gonadal tumours 3.24%; retinoblastomas 2.11%; liver tumours 0.45% and others 0.14%. The comparison of these results with international available data shows that we record the world highest adjusted incidence rates for neuroblastomas (15.46) and rhabdomyosarcomas (7.04) and a high rate for Ewing's sarcomas (3.30); this fact will need to be confirmed by a longer period of observation, but even now the total number of cases (particularly for neuroblastoma) is high when compared with the data of other children registries which give rates for longer periods and for similar or larger populations.

Adolescent↗

Pediatric cancer mortality rates in New Jersey and the United States.

The authors studied pediatric mortality rates for four major categories of neoplasms for the years 1950 to 1985. This report indicates differences in trends between the rates of the New Jersey population and of the United States population, for males and females, and whites and nonwhites.

Adolescent↗

The development of a new information model for a pediatric cancer registry on late treatment sequelae in The Netherlands.

Worldwide, the need is felt for life time follow up of survivors of childhood cancer and for the establishment of registries of the late effects of pediatric oncology treatments. There is however little consensus about how this all should take place. For example, agreement on the nature of this follow up and the type of data to be collected in view of the earlier diagnosis and treatment of the patient is lacking. In a close collaboration between the 'Late Effects Study Group' (consisting of the Pediatric Oncology department of the Emma Children's Hospital and the department of Medical Oncology at the Academic Medical Center), the Netherlands Cancer institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, and the department of Medical Informatics of the University of Amsterdam, consensus was reached on a new dataset on adverse late effects of pediatric oncology treatment. This dataset was used in developing an information model for the design of a computerized documentation system, PLEKsys. PLEKsys covers both standardized documentation of all relevant data items for evaluating late effects and review facilities on individual patient basis and on patient cohorts. We will install PLEKsys at all Dutch pediatric oncology centers and use the information model as a starting point in developing a National Pediatric Oncology Follow up Registry. A national programme encompassing all Dutch pediatric oncology centers has already been set up to co-ordinate the construction of this national registry.

Child↗

Effects of pediatric cancer therapy on the musculoskeletal system.

This review discusses the effects of treatment of pediatric malignancies on the musculoskeletal system with an emphasis on plain radiographic and MR imaging findings following radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation and hematopoietic growth factor administration.

Adolescent↗

Sexuality in children and adolescents with cancer: pediatric oncology nurses' attitudes and behaviors.

It is essential that health professionals openly discuss how cancer may affect the developing sexuality of childhood cancer patients. This study was conducted to explore nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality in cancer patients. Results are reported for a subset of a larger study (N = 937) from subjects who indicated that their practice included children and/or adolescents (N = 156). The Williams-Wilson Sexuality Survey was used to measure attitudes towards sexuality in cancer patients, behavior in nursing care related to the sexuality of a cancer patient, and attitudes towards sexuality in the child and/or adolescent with cancer. The majority of subjects agreed that sexuality should be a routine component of nursing care, yet less than half had actually discussed an alternation in sexuality with an adolescent patient. More than one third said they were not comfortable in initiating such discussions. However, they were comfortable in discussing sexuality concerns when these discussions were initiated by the patient and/or family.

Adolescent↗

Avascular femoral head necrosis in pediatric cancer patients.

Avascular femoral head necrosis was identified in 15 patients treated at a major pediatric oncology center from 1974 to 1991. The predominant underlying diagnosis was acute leukemia (lymphoblastic, n = 6; non-lymphoblastic, n = 2); two patients had chronic myeloid leukemia, two Hodgkin's disease, and three other solid tumors. Patients ranged from 7 to 27 years of age at diagnosis of this complication, with a median interval of 25 months (range, 0-11 years) from primary diagnosis. Both steroids and radiation therapy appear implicated in the pathogenesis of avascular necrosis: nine patients had received high cumulative doses of prednisone (3.4-14 g/m2), four had received 35-64.8 Gy local irradiation involving the femoral head, and one underwent total body irradiation (12 Gy). Of the 11 surviving patients, six are asymptomatic and fully active. Two patients have joint pain that is responsive to conservative measures. Severe pain and joint deterioration necessitated arthroplasty in two cases, and a third child is undergoing orthopedic evaluation because of worsening symptoms. Thus, like adult cancer patients, children who receive high doses of steroids or local irradiation involving femoral heads are at risk for avascular necrosis. In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, the complication may be disease related. Although outcomes in our series are better than those reported in adults, the long period of risk for these children and young adults precludes definitive conclusions.

Adolescent↗