[Second malignant tumor in children. Report of 22 cases].

Abstract

Between 1965 and 1988, at the Children's Hospital of Buenos Aires, 22 children developed two successive malignant tumors of different histology. The first tumor was diagnosed between 3 months and 12 years of age: 13 retinoblastoma, 2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 2 Hodgkin disease, 1 brain stem glioma, 1 endodermal sinus tumor and 1 Ewing sarcoma. Familial cancer was registered in 6 patients. Children were treated with surgery, intensive chemo and radiotherapy. The second malignancy developed after 2 to 13 years: 10 osteosarcoma, 2 Ewing sarcoma, 2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 glioblastoma, 1 medulloblastoma, 1 synoviosarcoma, 1 fibrosarcoma, 1 thyroid carcinoma, 1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 1 acute myeloblastic leukemia. In 17 patients, the tumor developed in irradiated field. There was no evidence of the first tumor and only 1 patient was still under chemotherapy. Oncologic treatment was frustrating for these second tumors and 18 children died. Three are alive with no evidence of disease at 2 years, 2 years and 4 months and 3 years after diagnosis. One patient was lost to follow-up. It if postulated that second malignant tumors are consecutive to genetic predisposition and/or to the oncogenic effect of chemo and radiotherapy. The intensity of each treatment modality must be reduced as much as possible to obtain survival while limiting the secondary effects.

• Authors: L Schwartz, J Kupferman, P Picco
• Journal: Medicina (Medicina (B Aires)) Vol. 50 Issue 2 Pg. 97-101 ( 1990) ISSN: 0025-7680 [Print] Argentina
• Vernacular Title: Segundo tumor maligno en pediatría. Comunicación de 22 casos.
• PMID: 2101857 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Argentina (epidemiology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Neoplasms, Multiple Primary (epidemiology, genetics, therapy)
• Prognosis