Pediatric Cancer Flashcards
Warning signs of blood cell cancers.
s/s of anemia,
activity intolerance,
infections
Warning signs of tumor cancers.
palpable mass,
discomfort/pain,
severe wt loss,
neurologic symptoms (paresthesia)
Briefly describe a neuroblastoma.
a neuro-endocrine tumor in the adrenal gland or sympathetic ganglia
Briefly describe how neuroblastoma presents.
Mass in abdomen or chest,
bone pain,
bruising around eyes
Identify other s/s associated with neuroblastoma.
abdominal distention,
anorexia, wt loss,
GI & GU dysfunction,
hepatosplenomegaly
Diagnostic imaging for neuroblastoma.
Ultrasound for abdomen OR X-ray for chest,
CT, MRI,
MIBG scan
Briefly describe the MIBG scan.
specific scan for neuroendocrine tumors; tumors show as dark regions
Identify lab testing for neuroblastomas.
24h urine collection to look for “vanilla” catecholamines
Briefly identify complications of neuroblastomas.
metastasis to lymph nodes,
nerve compression leading to neurological deficits
Briefly describe retinoblastoma.
A malignant tumor in the retina.
Identify key sign of retinoblastoma.
Leukocoria
aka the “cat’s eye reflex”
(pupil shines white with light)
Identify other s/s of retinoblastoma.
strabismus,
vision loss,
orbital inflammation,
proptosis
Briefly define strabismus.
cross-eyed
Briefly define proptosis.
Abnormal protrusion/bulge of the eye.
Identify the chief goal of treatment for retinoblastoma.
preserve the eye and vision,
protect the remaining eye!
Briefly define enucleation.
removal of the eye
Briefly describe initial presentation of a Wilms tumor.
(aka nephroblastoma)
a unilateral firm abdominal mass (without any other symptoms yet)
Identify key thing when assessing for a nephroblastoma.
(aka Wilms tumor)
DO NOT PALPATE THE ABDOMEN!
Identify key complications of a Wilms tumor.
(aka nephroblastoma)
seeding - ruptures easily to metastasize to the lungs, brain, bones, and lymph nodes
Identify key s/s of Wilms tumor.
(aka nephroblastoma)
asymmetry in abdomen,
abdominal discomfort,
s/s of kidney damage:
HTN due to renin production,
hematuria
Most common medication for kidney-related symptom of a nephroblastoma.
(aka Wilms tumor)
ACE inhibitors for the hypertension
Labs to monitor with Wilms tumor.
(aka nephroblastoma)
Kidney things:
BUN/creatinine,
K+ (hyperkalemia)
Key pt teaching for nephroblastoma.
(aka Wilms tumor)
No contact sports (worried about seeding if tumor reoccurs).
Briefly describe an osteosarcoma.
a large, tender soft tissue mass near the growth plate of a long bone
Identify risk factors for an osteosarcoma
growth spurt around 13-16yo,
recent injury,
Hx of radiation/chemo,
female
s/s of osteosarcoma
localized pain lasting months,
soft tissue swelling,
limping,
pathological fracture
Identify some long-term concerns with osteosarcoma.
reoccurrence, metastasis,
poor body image,
halted limb growth
Identify labs for osteosarcoma.
elevated alkaline phosphate (byproduct of bone formation),
elevated ESR (indicating inflammation)
Identify imaging for osteosarcoma.
X-ray showing woven bone matrix “sun burst” pattern,
CT, MRI,
bone scan
Identify key treatment options for osteosarcoma.
chemo to reduce tumor size and prevent metastasis,
limb-sparing removal,
amputation
