Paediatric Oncology 1 Flashcards
What CNS tumours are associated with NF1?
Optic pathway gliomas, astrocytoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, neurofibromas
How common are medulloblastomas and how do they present?
- 35-40% of CNS tumours
- MOST COMMON malignant brain tumour of childhood, male>female
- 2-3 mo of headaches, vomiting, truncal ataxia
- Heterogeneously or homogeneously enhancing fourth ventricular mass; may be disseminated
- overall 65-85% survival
How common are cerebellar astrocytomas and how do they present?
- 35-40%
- 3-6 mo of limb ataxia; secondary headaches, vomiting - Cerebellar hemisphere mass, usually with cystic and solid (mural nodule) components
- 90-100% survival if totally resected, pilocytic
How common are atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours and how do they present?
- Incredibly malignant and pretty rare
- > 5 (10-15% of infantile malignant tumors)
- lethargy/vomiting; often facial weakness/strabismus
- Similar to medulloblastoma, fourth ventricular mass; may be disseminated but often more laterally extended
- 2/3 cerebellar/cerebellopontine angle, invasion of surrounding structures; 1/4 supratentorial, 8% multifocal
- ≤20% survival in infants, overall <10%
What tumours are associated with the “classic triad” of headache, nausea, and vomiting as well as papilledema?
Midline or infratentorial tumors
Which childhood cancers are associated with the highest risk of secondary malignancy?
Hereditary retinoblastoma (RB1) > Hodgkin > soft tissue sarcomas
Hereditary retinoblastoma by far has the highest rate of secondary malignancy ( ~50% at 50yrs) if RB1
Hodgkins - often radiation, therefore tumours in the radiation field (e.g. breast and thyroid).
ALL due to alkylating agents (secondary AML) or if craniospinal irradiation for relapse (brain tumours)
What are the key side effects of vincristine?
- neuropathy
- constipation
- myalgias
- arthralgias
- cholestasis
- extravasation causes tissue necrosis
What brain tumour typically presents with raised ICP (headaches) and pituitary dysfunction (short stature/growth failure)?
Craniopharyngioma
What are the sub-types of medulloblastoma and what is the prognosis?
- Sonic hedgehog (SHH), overactive signalling, if TP53 mutation survival 40%, if “wild” TP53 survival 80%, associated with Gorlin syndrome SUFU/PTCH1 mutation
- Wingless-related integration site (Wnt), 6-8% have APC/familial adenomatous polyposis mutation, survival 95%
- Group 3 - worst prognosis, survival 50%
- Group 4 - often metastatic, survival 75%
Where are most juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas found?
Posterior fossa (2/3)
Classically a cystic mass with contrast enhancing nodule in wall
Also in the optic pathway
Child with esotropia or strabismus in the first year of life:
Think retinoblastoma
Can be associated with RB1
Which brain tumours cause a rise in b-HCG or AFP?
Pineal tumours or germinomas.
What is the most common extracranial solid tumour in childhood?
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid
tumour in childhood
Rapid, dancing eye movements and
myoclonus could be which tumour?
‘Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome’ (1-3% presentations of neuroblastoma)
50% of children who present with this have neuroblastoma
What proportion of neuroblastoma arises in the adrenal cortex?
40%
Which chemotherapy agents cause bone marrow toxicity and risk of secondary malignancy?
Alkylating agents (e.g. Cyclophosphamide)
Which chemotherapy agent causes renal tubular damage?
Ifosfamide
Which chemotherapy agents cause haemorrhagic cystitis?
- Ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide, from the toxic metabolite acrolein
- Mesna helps prevent this
Which are the typical side effects of vincristine?
- Peripheral neuropathy (i.e. avoid if you have Charcot Marie Tooth)
- Death if IT
- Jaw pain
Which chemotherapy agents cause cardiac issues?
- Anthracyclines
- Doxorubicin
- Dexrazoxane for cardioprotection