Paediatric oncology Flashcards
Describe what cancer is
- Abnormal cells dividing in an uncontrollable way
- Gene changes
- stimulates own blood supply
What warrants an immediate referral to a paediatrician
- Unexplained petechiae
- Unexplained hepatosplenomegaly
What is the presentation of sepsis
- Hyper or hypothermia
- Drowsiness
- Shock (tachycardia, tachypnoea, hypotension, prolonged capillary refill time, reduced urine output and metabloic acidosis
How is possible sepsis investigated
- IV access
- Take bloods
- Chest Xray
What is the presentation of raised ICP in children
- Early morning headache and vomiting
- Tense fontanelle
- Increasing head circumference
- Constant headache
- Papilloedema
- diplopia
- loss of upgaze
- Neck stiffness
- Status epilecticus
- reduced GCS
What investigation is done for raised ICP
CT scan
What is the treatment of raised ICP due to a tumour
- Dexamethasone to reduce oedema and increase CSF flow
What is the surgery done for raised ICP
- Ventriculostomy - hole in the membrane at the base of the 3rd ventricle
What is the presentation of cord compression in children
- Weakness
- Pain
- Sensory
- Sphincter disturbance
What is the management of cord compression in children
- Urgent MRI
- Start dexamethasone urgently to reduce peri-tumour oedema
- Chemothrapy
What is superior vena cava syndrome
Obstruction of the vena cava which blocks the head and neck from the drainage
What is the presentation of superior vena cava syndrome
- Facial, neck and upper thoracic plethora
- Oedema
- Cyanosis
- DIstended veins
- ill
- Anxious
- Reduced GCS
What is the presentation of superior mediastinum syndrome
- Dyspnoea
- Tachypnoea
- cough
- wheeze
- stridor
- orthopnoea
What is the management of superior vena cava syndrome
- Keep upright
- Urgent biopsy
- Chemotherapy
What is tumour lysis
tumour starts to die but as it dies it releases its tumour intracellular electrolytes in the blood stream
What does tumour lysis syndrome cause
- Increased potassium
- Increased urate
- increased phosphate
- decreased calcium
- Acute renal failure
What is the treatment of tumour lysis syndrome
Agressive hydration and then decrease uric acid by using allopurinol
