Analysis of early death in children with neuroblastoma / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the causes of death and severe complication in the early diagnosis of children with neuroblastoma (NB), and to analyze the relative factors of early death of children with NB, so as to raise awareness and reduce early mortality by early detection and early intervention.Methods:Patients with newly diagnosed NB in the Hematology Oncology Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital from April 2007 to December 2017 were included consecutively, and those died within 1 month after diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed.The general data of patients, immediate causes of death, complications, time elapsed between death and diagnosis, whether to receive chemotherapy and other information were collected.Results:A total of 654 cases were included for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, 31 cases of which died in early stage, accounting for 4.7% of the total.The major complication were pulmonary infection in 18 cases (58.1%) and bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy in 17 cases (54.8%), tumor rupture hemorrhage in 16 cases (51.6%), multiple organ failure in 8 cases (25.8%). Risk factor analysis of the 31 early death cases with NB was conducted.Single factor analysis: there were statistical differences between early death group and non-early death group in risk grouping ( P=0.006 6), bone marrow invasion ( P=0.020 7), site of primary tumor ( P=0.016 7), age ( P=0.003 3), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level ( P<0.000 1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level ( P<0.000 1), serum ferritin level ( P=0.016 0), D dimer level ( P<0.000 1), fibrinogen level ( P=0.002 7), diameter of tumor ( P<0.000 1), hemoglobin ( P<0.000 1), platelet level ( P<0.000 1), serum albumin level ( P<0.000 1). Multiple-factor analysis: age younger than 30 months, OR=2.824 (95% CI 1.084-7.359), LDH level greater than 1 004 IU/L, OR=6.991 (95% CI 2.135-22.887), albumin level less than 36 g/L, OR= 65.237 (95% CI 2.024-13.545), hemoglobin level less than 92 g/L, OR=5.358 (95% CI 2.024-13.545), platelet level less than 192×10 9/L, OR=3.554 (95% CI 1.267-9.965). Conclusions:Strengthening vital signs detection after admission, identifying severe life-threatening complications such as rupture of tumors as early as possible, implementing symptomatic interventions such as appropriate sedation and active transfusion of blood products as early as possible after invasive operation, and transferring to intensive care unit for respiratory support when necessary are important means to avoid early death.