Childhood Cancers

Question 1

Symptoms of CNS Tumors

Answer 1

seirzures, weekness, difficultyies with coordination, increased intracranial pressure.

Question 2

When to evaluate pediatric headaches

Answer 2

Presence of neurological abnormality, ocular findings, papilledema, persistent vomiting, headaches that wake up the child, decelerated growth, NF, previous history of leukemia or radiation.

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of leukemia

Answer 3

unexplained fever for more than 7 days, petechiae, unexplained anemia, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, bone or joint pain.

Question 4

ALL

Answer 4

most common malignancy in childhood, peak age 2-5 more frequent in caucasian males.

Question 5

ALL CBC

Answer 5

1% will have normal, 50% will have elevated WBC, 80% wqill have lymphoblasts on the peripheral smear, 95% will have 2 or more cytopenias, 4% will have 1 cytopenia.

Question 6

AML

Answer 6

20% of leukemias. Increased incidence in less than 1 year old. Can have chloromas (solid collections in bone and soft tissue)

Question 7

AML Treatment

Answer 7

Aggressive treatment with BMT. Prognosis features: favorable (t8,21) (inv16) (FAB m4) unfavorable (FLT3 ITD, monosomy 7, WBC>100k, secondary AML, myellodysplasia with AML)

Question 8

Downsyndrome and Leukemia

Answer 8

10-20 fold increase. 4:1 ALL vs AML. Superior response to treatment of AML. Can have a unique Transient Myeloproliferative disorder which can increase their risk of AML.

Question 9

Gliomas

Answer 9

most commonly astrocytoma and range up to glioblastoma. Commonly in the posterior fossa.

Question 10

Neuroblastoma

Answer 10

Occurs at any neural crest tissue. Often metastatic at diagnosis. Perioribital ecchymoses. Most common solid tumor.