Possibility of Alternative Medicine in the Field of Pediatric Hematology-Oncolgy: Analysis of 7 Cases of Unexpected Outcome by Modern Medicine / 임상소아혈액종양

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We analyzed data for pediatric hematology-oncology patients who had unexpected outcomes after they received alternative medicinal treatment; these outcomes could not be explained by modern medicine.METHODS: The medical history of 7 of the pediatric patients who were treated at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1987 to 2011 and had unexpected outcomes was analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: The first patient had recurrent infantile fibrosarcoma and had more than 10 multiple coin lesions in both the lungs at the time of the third relapse. He received acupuncture twice weekly for 10 years without tumor progression. The second patient had recurrent fibromatosis in the neck and caused compression of the trachea and heart. The third patient had a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and the fourth patient had inoperable inflammatory myofibromatosis. The second, third, and fourth patients were treated using a herbal medication that contained Phellinus linteus extract and exhibited responses ranging from partial to stable disease. The fifth and sixth patients had multiple focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver and recurrent renal cell cancer. These 2 patients exercised strict dietary control and underwent an exercise program that were adjusted according to their body constitution and were based on Sasang typology. These 2 patients now have stable disease. The seventh patient had unresponsive chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and showed complete recovery of the platelet count after cepharanthine treatment.CONCLUSION: Scientific investigations are required to prove the effectiveness of these alternative medicines and to improve the results of such treatment in pediatric patients.