Peds Oncology Flashcards

1
Q

Cancer mortality rates in the US

A

Although cancer in children is rare it is the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children in the United States

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2
Q

Care for children and adolescents after cancer diagnosis

A

Children and adolescents who have been treated for cancer need regular follow-up care for the rest of their lives because they are at risk of late side effects that can occur many years later including second cancers

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3
Q

Which cancer makes up the majority of childhood cancer?

A

Leukemia - MC**

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4
Q

Leukemia pathophysiology

A
  • results from an event in a bone marrow precursor cell which gives rise to immature progeny that have lost the capacity to differentiate and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner
  • immature progeny (blasts) expand in marrow and impair normal hematopoiesis
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5
Q

List the leukemia types that make up the majority of childhood cancer

A
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

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6
Q

Which population has higher risk of developing acute leukemia compared to other children?

A

Children with Down Syndrome have 20x greater risk

  • ALL: 12x risk
  • AML 46x risk
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7
Q

Which other groups have increased risk of developing acute leukemia?

A
  • siblings of children with leukemia
  • those with genetic disorders such as:
  • -neurofibromatosis
  • -Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • -Fanconi’s anemia
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8
Q

Leukemia - common presenting s/sx

A
  • Expanding blast population in bone marrow causes bone and joint pain
  • Pallor and fatigue due to anemia
  • Bruising, petechiae and bleeding due to thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy
  • Fever due to infection and cytokines from leukemia
  • Adenopathy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly due to blasts migrating out of marrow
  • Gingivitis/gingival hyperplasia
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9
Q

Lab findings in acute leukemia

-CBC

A
  • Leukocytosis or leukopenia with or without circulating blasts
  • Anemia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • CBC may also be completely normal
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10
Q

Lab findings in acute leukemia

A

Coagulopathy/DIC is common in AML

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11
Q

Lab findings in acute leukemia

-metabolic derangement

A
  • due to rapid cell growth and turnover
  • Elevated creatinine, potassium, phosphorus and uric acid
  • Elevated lactate dehydrogenase
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12
Q

Approaching new leukemia cases

A
  • Need to obtain diagnosis by flow cytometry on peripheral blood or marrow
  • Need bone marrow samples for cytogenetics
  • Need diagnostic LP to assess CNS status
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13
Q

Epidemiology of Childhood ALL

A

**MC pediatric cancer
-Peak age 2-5 years
>90% overall survival on modern therapy regimens

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14
Q

ALL morphology under the microscope

A

Blasts are much larger than regular lymphocytes and RBCs

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15
Q

ALL therapy

A
  • Majority of therapy is outpatient
  • IV chemotherapy given in clinic and oral chemotherapy given at home
  • CNS directed chemotherapy via lumbar puncture**
  • Therapy lasts 2.5 years for girls and 3.5 years for boys
  • Bone marrow transplant (BMT) reserved only for certain very high risk patients and in relapse
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16
Q

Define B precursor ALL

A

MC subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

-has the highest cure rate

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17
Q

How does T cell ALL present?

A
  • Patients frequently have WBC >100K, are male (4X more than female), and >10 years old
  • Anterior mediastinal mass is often present at diagnosis and can cause severe cardio-respiratory compromise so often have to make diagnosis from peripheral blood or from biopsy done under minimal sedation
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18
Q

What patients should make you concerned for T cell ALL?

A
  • adolescents who present with asthma-like symptoms/respiratory distress who have never had respiratory problems or been diagnosed with asthma as a child
  • asthma does not typically appear in adolescence
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19
Q

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) morphology

A
  • 15-20% of childhood leukemia
  • Malignant precursors of the myeloid, monocyte, erythroid and megakaryocytic cell lineages
  • MC leukemia seen in children with bone marrow failure syndromes like Fanconi’s Anemia
  • Can result from exposure to chemotherapy
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20
Q

Which kind of AML is MC in Down Syndrome?

A

M7 AML - acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

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21
Q

Pediatric AML Therapy

A
  • 4-5 cycles of high-dose IV chemotherapy given inpatient every 4-5 weeks
  • Associated with lengthy periods of severe neutropenia and mucositis
  • Remain hospitalized for most of therapy due to high risk of life threatening bacterial infections
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22
Q

When is bone marrow transplant considered in

A
  • Used frequently in kids who have a sibling match, have poor response to Induction or have unfavorable cytogenetics
  • Almost always used in cases due to bone marrow failure syndromes or chemotherapy exposure
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23
Q

Relationship between AML and Trisomy 21

A
  • 20-30% of neonates will have Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder (TMD) and may need low dose chemo if liver of pulm dysfunction
  • these neonates have 20-30% chance of developing AML
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24
Q

What is the MC leukemia in children with trisomy 21?

A

AML is MC***

  • majority are M7
  • is associated with better outcomes than other children with less intensive therapy and without BMT**
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25
Q

Define Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

A
  • accounts for 1-3% of childhood cancer (20% in adults)
  • most peds cases occur after 4 years old
  • Myeloproliferative disorder characterized by an increased proliferation of the granulocytic cell line without the loss of their capacity to differentiate
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26
Q

What is the Philadelphia chromosome?

A
  • associated with CML
  • reciprocal translocation of the long arms of chromosomes 22 and 9
  • produces tyrosine kinase
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27
Q

CML presentation

A
  • Very high WBC (often >100K) with small percentages of circulating blasts, myelocytes, metamyelocytes and promyelocytes
  • often otherwise well appearing
  • tx now includes tyrosine kinase inhibitors
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28
Q

Define Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)

A
  • Rare myeloproliferative syndrome in very young children
  • Increased risk in certain inherited genetic disorders:
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1
  • Noonan’s syndrome
  • Cardio-facio-cutaneous congenital disorders
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29
Q

JMML Prognosis

A
  • typically runs an aggressive clinical course
  • Allogeneic BMT is only curative option
  • Median duration of survival without SCT is < 12 months from diagnosis
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30
Q

Define lymphomas

A
  • malignant proliferation of white blood cells derived from peripheral lymphoid tissue
  • make up 15% of childhood cancers
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31
Q

When to Worry About Lymphadenopathy

-History

A
  • Rapidly growing
  • Stay enlarged >2 months
  • No response when treated with antibiotics
  • Shrinks with steroids but then grows again
  • Associated fever, weight loss, fatigue
  • Causing respiratory distress bad enough to consider steroids
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32
Q

When to Worry About Lymphadenopathy

-Physical

A
  • Supraclavicular nodes always require more evaluation
  • > 3 cm is worrisome
  • Hard, immobile, non-tender or irregular are worrisome
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33
Q

When to Worry About Lymphadenopathy

-Labs

A

High LDH and uric acid are worrisome (these are signs of high cell turnover)

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34
Q

Radiology imaging CT vs. PET CT

A

CT: Look at size, location and extent

PET CT: Looks at metabolic activity

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35
Q

Incidence of Lymphoma by Age

A
  • Majority of lymphomas in younger children are NHL (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
  • Incidence of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma increases with age
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36
Q

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Presentation

A
  • Usually painless adenopathy (80%) commonly in the supraclavicular or cervical area
  • The enlarged nodes are typically firmer than inflammatory nodes and have a rubbery texture.
  • Many have some mediastinal involvement at presentation (silhouette present on CXR)
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37
Q

Etiology of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

A
  • Incidence increases steadily with age
  • Most commonly in the second decade of life
  • Most frequent malignancy in children with AIDS
  • Several subtypes in children:
  • Lymphoblastic Lymphomas
  • Burkitt’s Lymphomas
  • Large Cell Lymphomas
  • Tx: generally just chemo without radiation
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38
Q

Presentation of lymphoblastic lymphoma

A
  • a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • frequently initially presents with “asthma” (~75% present with anterior mediastinal mass)
  • 85-90% are Precursor T-Cell Origin
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39
Q

Burkitt’s Lymphoma Endemic form

A
  • primarily in Africa
  • Associated with EBV infection
  • Majority localized to Jaw or Head/Neck
40
Q

Burkitt’s Lymphoma Sporadic Form

A
  • MC in United States
  • No clear association with EBV
  • ~ 90% are intra-abdominal
41
Q

Burkitt’s Lymphoma presentation

A
  • Most rapidly growing lymphoma

- Frequently have electrolyte issues at presentation

42
Q

Large Cell Lymphomas Etiology

A

B lineage LCL:

  • Similar to Burkitt’s Lymphoma but more indolent (slower presenting)
  • Most often localized, frequently involves the mediastinum

T-lineage LCL (rarer):

  • Anaplastic LCL
  • Peripheral T-cell lymphomas
43
Q

Childhood brain tumors

A
  • 2nd MC cancer in children
  • Children have more low-grade gliomas and embryonal tumors while adults have more high-grade gliomas and meningiomas
  • Nearly 2/3 of pediatric brain tumors are infraratentorial while the majority of adult brain tumors are supratentorial
44
Q

Symptoms of Increased Intracranial Pressure

A
  • Headache and vomiting
  • -Mainly in the mornings and then improves**
  • -No associated diarrhea
  • Bulging fontanelle
45
Q

Cushing’s Triad in increased intracranial pressure

A
*signals impending herniation
Triad is:
-Hypertension
-Bradycardia
-Abnormal Respirations
46
Q

Imaging for CNS tumors

A

MRI is best tool for localization especially for cerebellum and brain stem tumors

47
Q

Metastases in Solid Tumors

A

Lungs are the most frequent sight of metastatic disease

48
Q

General Approach to Solid Tumor Therapy

A

Chemotherapy:

  • Shrink primary tumor to make surgical resection more feasible
  • Treat microscopic and radiographic metastatic disease

Surgery and/or radiation
-For local control of primary tumor site

Surgery and/or radiation to metastatic sites

49
Q

Common types of abdominal tumors in children

A
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Wilms Tumor
  • Hepatoblastoma
50
Q

Common presenting symptoms in abdominal tumors

A
  • Abdominal pain and distension
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting and weight loss
  • Hematuria
  • Jaundice

OR

asymptomatic with mass incidentally discovered by family member or PCP

51
Q

Define Beckwith-Wiedeman Syndrome

A
  • complex multi-genic disorder
  • require screening as young children with abdominal ultrasound
  • increased risk of abdominal tumors
52
Q

Beckwith-Wiedeman Syndrome Clinical Features

A
  • Macroglossia
  • Macrosomia
  • Hemihypertrophy
  • Omphalocele
  • Neonatal hypoglycemia
53
Q

Neuroblastoma Etiology

A

1 extra cranial solid tumor in children**

  • Median age at diagnosis is 22 months (MC cancer diagnosed in infancy)
  • Primary tumors occur in abdomen (65%) and along thoracic or cervical spine (sympathetic chain)
54
Q

Neuroblastoma Presentation

A
  • S/sx depend on location
  • Abdomen (fullness, fixed/hard mass)
  • Cervical/high thoracic (Horner syndrome - ptosis, miosis, anhydrosis- SVC syndrome, spinal cord or nerve root compression)
  • Orbital mets (proptosis and periorbital ecchymoses - Raccoon eyes)
  • Bone and bone marrow (Pain and cytopenias)
55
Q

Neuroblastoma Evaluation

A

Masses frequently have calcifications

56
Q

Neuroblastoma Risk Factors

-Age

A

< 18 months age at diagnosis is favorable while > 18 months age at diagnosis is unfavorable

57
Q

Wilms Tumor Etiology

A
  • MC renal tumor in children
  • most cases are unilateral, but some are bilateral
  • 10-15% of cases are in children with congenital anomalies
58
Q

Wilms Tumor Presentation

A
  • Palpable abdominal mass
  • Most common presentation
  • Often asymptomatic and incidentally noted while bathing child
  • Hematuria
  • HTN
  • Obstipation, weight loss (less common)
59
Q

Wilms Tumor on CT

A

shows “claw sign”

60
Q

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Etiology

A
  • 5-6% of pediatric renal neoplasms
  • Makes up 2/3 of renal tumors in 15-19 year olds
  • MC adult renal cancer
61
Q

Hepatoblastoma Etiology

A
  • Third MC intra-abdominal neoplasm
  • 66% of hepatic malignancies in age <20 years
  • 91% of patients are < 5 years age at diagnosis
62
Q

Hepatoblastoma risk factors

A
  • Prematurity and low birth weight (<2500 grams) is associated with increased risk
  • Elevated alpha-fetoprotein in >90% of cases
63
Q

Hepatoblastoma Therapy

A
  • Surgery alone is an option for resectable pure fetal histology tumors
  • Majority require chemotherapy in addition to surgery
64
Q

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Etiology

A

> 95% of liver tumors in age >15 years

-Elevated alpha-fetoprotein in 75-80% of cases

65
Q

Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Children

-Presentation

A
  • pain +/- associated soft tissue mass
  • Pelvic tumors: Urinary and stool retention or incontinence
  • Chest/rib tumors: respiratory distress
  • Orbital tumors: Proptosis
  • Biliary tract: Jaundice
  • Can present with pathologic fracture due to minimal trauma
  • Can have diffuse pain due to metastatic disease
66
Q

Osteosarcoma Etiology

A
  • MC malignant bone tumor
  • Predilection for metaphyseal portion of growing bones:
  • -Distal femur
  • -Proximal tibia
  • -Proximal humerus
67
Q

Osteosarcoma Therapy

A
  • Chemotherapy x10 weeks followed by resection of primary tumor
  • Amputation vs limb salvage
  • Try to remove metastatic disease as well if possible
  • No role for radiation
68
Q

Ewing Sarcoma Etiology

A
  • Second MC malignant bone tumor
  • MC sites:
  • -Pelvic bones
  • -Diaphysis of long bones of legs
  • -Chest wall and rib
  • Predilection for Caucasians (6x> African Americans)
69
Q

Ewing Sarcoma Therapy

A
  • Chemotherapy
  • Local control to primary tumor site (surgery, radiation or both)
  • Radiation to metastatic sites
  • poor prognosis in metastatic disease
70
Q

Rhabdomyosarcoma Etiology

A
  • Malignant muscle tumor
  • 3% of childhood cancer
  • MC in Caucasians
  • Most occur sporadically but may arise with NF1 and Li-Fraumeni
71
Q

Rhabdomyosarcoma Therapy

A
  • Chemotherapy

- Local Control

72
Q

Germ Cell Tumors

A
  • 3% of childhood cancer
  • Arise from primordial cells involved in gametogenesis
  • Increased risk with Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes as well as cryptorchidism
73
Q

Germ Cell Tumor Presentation

-Testicular

A
  • Irregular, non-tender mass

- Often mistaken for epididymysis

74
Q

Common Complications of Chemotherapy

A
  • Bone marrow suppression
  • -Require blood product transfusions
  • -Increased risk of infection when neutrophil count is low
  • GI symptoms
  • -Nausea/Vomiting, Constipation, Mucositis
  • Liver and renal toxicity
  • Alopecia
  • Myositis
  • Neurotoxicity
75
Q

Long Term Effects of Cancer Therapy

A
  • Cardiac dysfunction
  • Renal dysfunction
  • Liver dysfunction
  • Infertility
  • Abnormal growth
  • Osteoporosis
  • Secondary malignancies
  • Neurocognitive dysfunction
76
Q

Define Tumor Lysis Syndrome

A
  • Release of intracellular contents by rapid tumor cell death
  • Hyperphosphatemia and hyperuricemia can lead to renal stones and renal insufficiency
  • Hyperkalemia can result from cell death as well as renal insufficiency
  • -Can cause cardiac arrhythmias which can be fatal

*Can be present at diagnosis or immediately after starting therapy

77
Q

List the Mediastinal Masses That can Cause Cardio-Respiratory Compromise

A

-Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS): tumor can compress SVC resulting in impaired venous return and stasis
- Superior Mediastinal: syndrome (SMS)
SVCS with airway compromise

78
Q

Presentation of mediastinal masses

A
  • Swelling, plethora and cyanosis of face/upper extremities

- Cough, dyspnea, orthopnea, wheezing, and stridor worse when supine

79
Q

Management of SVCS / SMS

A
  • Avoid sedation and general anesthesia**
  • Can cause decreased respiratory drive, increased peripheral vasodilation & decreased venous return
  • Difficult to intubate past obstruction
80
Q

Spinal Cord Compression Etiology

A
  • Ewing Sarcoma
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Lymphoma/leukemia
  • rare in kids, many aren’t picked up on xray
  • any compromise of the spinal cord, conus medullaris, or cauda equina requires emergent attention
81
Q

S/Sx of Spinal Cord Compression

A
  • Local or radicular pain >80% of cases

- Weakness / Sensory loss / Paresis

82
Q

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

-Pathophysiology

A
  • increased circulating thrombin and plasmin results in:
  • -Consumption of platelets, clotting factors
  • -Microangiopathy
  • -Hyperfibrinolysis
  • -Clinically, results in microthrombi and bleeding
83
Q

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

-Labs

A
  • increased PT/INR
  • increased PTT
  • increased D-Dimer
  • decreased Fibrinogen
  • decreased Platelets
84
Q

DIC Management

A
  • Replace consumed factors
  • Suppress / attenuate underlying cause:
  • -Leukemia: start chemotherapy**
  • -Sepsis: broad spectrum antibiotics
85
Q

Platelet Transfusion Guidelines

A

Well appearing: transfuse if < 5K

Mucosal bleeding or Febrile: transfuse if < 20K

Extensive mucosal or internal bleeding: transfuse if < 50K

86
Q

Fever During Treatment

A

ANC < 500: immediately give very broad spectrum antibiotics like Cefepime, Ceftazadime or Zosyn and

ANC >500: Can discharge home if looking well

87
Q

Fever & Severe Neutropenia

A

Must be hospitalized***
Discharge criteria (before ANC >500/mm3):
-WBC and ANC rising to at least ANC 100
-Afebrile for >24 hours
-No significant or persistently positive cultures
-Well appearing with reliable follow-up

88
Q

Define Typhlitis

A
  • Necrotizing colitis of the cecum in neutropenic patients
  • Bacterial / fungal invasion of cecal mucosa that can progress into full thickness infarction and perforation
  • MC pathogens: Clostridium, Pseudomonas & E. Coli
89
Q

Typhlitis on examination

A
  • Abdominal pain is the most persistent sign on exam
  • Fever, hypotension, tachycardia
  • Hematochezia / hematemesis
  • Abdominal distension, obstruction, ileus
90
Q

Typhlitis on imaging

A

shows pneumotosis intestinalis (air bubbles in the bowel wall) or non-specific thickening of the bowel wall

91
Q

Define Pneumocystis jiroveci/carinii

A

Ubiquitous fungus that causes interstitial pneumonia in immunocompromised patients

92
Q

Pneumocystis jiroveci/carinii on physical exam

A
  • Non-productive cough

- Hypoxia, Dyspnea, Tachypnea

93
Q

Pneumocystis jiroveci/carinii imaging

A
  • Bilateral reticular infiltrates

- “Angel Wings” appearance on CT

94
Q

Define Varicella Zoster (Shingles)

A

Vesicular rash that follows a dermatome

95
Q

Causes of Varicella Zoster

A
  • Re-activation of past infection
  • New exposure to Varicella
  • Getting vaccine while immunocompromised
96
Q

Live vaccines and chemotherapy

A

Avoid live vaccines until 1 year from the end of chemotherapy**

97
Q

Vaccinations During Treatment

A
  • Hold all vaccines during therapy except inactivated seasonal flu vaccine
  • Continue to vaccinate family members*
  • Safe to administer live vaccines to siblings but advise patient not to change diapers
  • Resume vaccinations 6 months after therapy