Câncer infantojuvenil: caracterização a partir da Classificação Internacional da Atenção Primária / Pediatric cancer: characterization from the International Classification of Primary Care

Objetivo: caracterizar o câncer infantojuvenil conforme a Classificação Internacional da Atenção Primária (CIAP-2) em uma unidade de referência em Recife-PE. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal de abordagem quantitativa, com entrevistas realizadas com os pais/responsáveis pelos pacientes em 2015. A sintomatologia relatada foi classificada conforme a CIAP em sua segunda versão, sendo os dados analisados em medidas absolutas e relativas. Tem aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, CAAE 42167315.4.0000.5208. Resultados: predominância do sexo masculino, entre 15-21 anos, com diagnósticos de leucemia, tumores ósseos, linfomas, respectivamente. Conforme a CIAP-2, os sinais/sintomas mais citados foram os inespecíficos. Conclusão: por esta inespecificidade, urge a necessidade de alertar e capacitar os profissionais na suspeição precoce dos sinais e sintomas do câncer infantojuvenil, subsidiando assim um melhor prognóstico.

Objective: to characterize pediatric cancer according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) in a reference center in Recife-PE. Method: this is a cross-sectional study of quantitative approach with interviews with parents/guardians in 2015. The reported symptoms were classified according to the ICPC in its second version, and the data were analyzed in absolute and relative measures. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee, CAAE 42167315.4.0000.5208. Results: The patients were predominantly male, between 15-21 years, and with diagnoses of leukemia, bone tumors and lymphomas, respectively. As According to ICPC-2, the specific signs/symptoms were the most cited. The sites with suspected predominant tumor were the reference units, unless previously mentioned in primary care. Conclusion: due to this nonspecificity, arises the need to alert and empower the professionals on suspicion of early signs and symptoms of cancer children, subsidizing a better prognosis.

Invasive infection due to Saprochaete capitata in a young patient with hematological malignancies.

We report a case of invasive infection due to Saprochaete capitata in a patient with hematological malignancies after chemotherapy treatment and empiric antifungal therapy with caspofungin. Although severely immunocompromised the patient survived been treated with amphotericin B lipid complex associated with voriconazole.

Invasive infection due to Saprochaete capitata in a young patient with hematological malignancies

We report a case of invasive infection due to Saprochaete capitata in a patient with hematological malignancies after chemotherapy treatment and empiric antifungal therapy with caspofungin. Although severely immunocompromised the patient survived been treated with amphotericin B lipid complex associated with voriconazole.

Diagnosing lymphoma in a setting with a high burden of infection: a pediatric case of Epstein-Barr virus-associated aggressive B-cell lymphoma with t(8;14) (q23;q32) and extensive necrosis mimicking tuberculosis.

The association of lymphoma with necrotic granuloma can pose diagnostic challenges and delay treatment, especially in settings with a high burden of infection. In these settings, the timely use of cytogenetic and molecular methods is most relevant. Here, we report a case of B-cell lymphoma with t (8;14) in a 5-year-old male child. The lymphoma was associated with necrotic granuloma and was initially misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect clonal lymphoproliferation and to rule out Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tumor cells harbored Epstein-Barr virus and expressed CD20, CD10, BCL6, and Ki67 (30%), leading to the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma.

Carboplatin in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma: Results of the first Brazilian collaborative study group for Ewing sarcoma family tumors-EWING1.

BACKGROUND: Large cooperative group studies have shown the efficacy of risk-adapted treatment for Ewing sarcoma. However, validation and local adaptation by National cooperative groups is needed. A multicenter protocol to determine the efficacy and safety of a risk-adapted intensive regimen was developed by the Brazilian cooperative group. PROCEDURE: Patients <30 years old with Ewing sarcoma were eligible. Induction chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) followed by two cycles of VDC (vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide), followed by local control. Patients with low risk (LR) disease (localized resectable with normal LDH) received 10 additional alternating courses of IE with VDC. For patients with high-risk (HR) disease (unresectable, pelvic, metastatic, or high LDH), two additional cycles of ICE were given. RESULTS: One-hundred seventy five patients (39% metastatic) were enrolled. Fifty-two patients (29.7%) were LR and 123 (70.3%) were HR. Overall response rate at end of induction was 27.4%. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates were 51.4% and 54.4%, respectively. Patients with localized disease had better outcomes than patients with metastases (5-year EFS 67.9% vs. 25.5%, and 5-year OS 70.3% vs. 29.1%, respectively). On multivariate analysis, the presence of metastatic disease was the only prognostic factor (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The VDC/ICE protocol was feasible, and considering the high tumor burden in our population, resulted in comparable results to those reported by cooperative groups in high-income countries. Further adaptation to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity will be required.

Diagnosing lymphoma in a setting with a high burden of infection: a pediatric case of Epstein-Barr virus-associated aggressive B-cell lymphoma with t(8;14) (q23;q32) and extensive necrosis mimicking tuberculosis

The association of lymphoma with necrotic granuloma can pose diagnostic challenges and delay treatment, especially in settings with a high burden of infection. In these settings, the timely use of cytogenetic and molecular methods is most relevant. Here, we report a case of B-cell lymphoma with t (8;14) in a 5-year-old male child. The lymphoma was associated with necrotic granuloma and was initially misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect clonal lymphoproliferation and to rule out Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tumor cells harbored Epstein-Barr virus and expressed CD20, CD10, BCL6, and Ki67 (30%), leading to the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma.

Pulmonary infection due to Pseudozyma aphidis in a patient with Burkitt lymphoma: first case report.

Fungal infections are being increasingly reported in patients with malignancies. Pseudozyma aphidis is an opportunistic yeast usually isolated from plants and rarely from human samples. In this study, we report the first case of pulmonary infection due to P. aphidis in a Burkitt lymphoma patient.

MTR polymorphic variant A2756G and retinoblastoma risk in Brazilian children.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the genes of folate and methionine metabolism enzymes have been associated with some forms of cancer by affecting DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation. PROCEDURE: A case-control study of 72 retinoblastoma cases and 98 cancer-free children controls was performed to investigate whether the polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C), methionine synthase (MTR A2756G), carrier of reduced folate 1 (RFC-1 A80G) and thymidylate synthase (TYMS 2R > 3R) altered the risk for retinoblastoma. RESULTS: MTR A2756G AG plus GG genotype frequencies were higher in patients than in controls (45% vs. 26%, P = 0.03). Individual carriers of the variant allele G had a 2.02 (95% CI: 1.05-3.92)-fold increased risk for retinoblastoma. In contrast, no association was observed with respect to MTHFR C677T and A1298C, RFC A80G, and TYMS polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents evidence for an association between the MTR A2756G polymorphism and retinoblastoma susceptibility in a Northeast population from Brazil.

Benefits of the intermittent use of 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate in maintenance treatment for low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: randomized trial from the Brazilian Childhood Cooperative Group--protocol ALL-99.

PURPOSE To describe event-free survival (EFS) and toxicities in children with low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) assigned to receive either continuous 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and weekly methotrexate (MTX) or intermittent 6-MP with intermediate-dose MTX, as maintenance treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between October 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, 635 patients with low-risk ALL were enrolled onto Brazilian Childhood Cooperative Group for ALL Treatment (GBTLI) ALL-99 protocol. Eligible children (n = 544) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous 6-MP/MTX (group 1, n = 272) or intermittent 6-MP (100 mg/m(2)/d for 10 days, with 11 days resting) and MTX (200 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks; group 2, n = 272). RESULTS The 5-year overall survival (OS) and EFS were 92.5% +/- 1.5% SE and 83.6% +/- 2.1% SE, respectively. According to maintenance regimen, the OS was 91.4% +/- 2.2% SE (group 1) and 93.6% +/- 2.1% SE (group 2; P = .28) and EFS 80.9% +/- 3.2% SE (group 1) and 86.5% +/- 2.8% SE (group 2; P = .089). Remarkably, the intermittent regimen led to significantly higher EFS among boys (85.7% v 74.9% SE; P = .027), while no difference was seen for girls (87.0% v 88.8% SE; P = .78). Toxic episodes were recorded in 226 and 237 children, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 toxic events for groups 1 and 2 were, respectively, 273 and 166 for hepatic dysfunction (P = .002), and 772 and 636 for hematologic episodes (P = .005). Deaths on maintenance were: seven (group 1) and one (group 2). CONCLUSION The intermittent use of 6-MP and MTX in maintenance is a less toxic regimen, with a trend toward better long-term EFS. Boys treated with the intermittent schedule had significantly better EFS.

Number of involved anatomic areas as a risk predictor in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the number of involved anatomic areas can modify the standard risk groups in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma, identifying children who would benefit from a reduction in treatment intensity. METHODS: Retrospective study evaluating age, sex, histology, Ann-Arbor stage, presence of B symptoms, number of involved anatomic areas, risk grouping (favorable vs. unfavorable), and laboratory exams. All patients received doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy. Patients in complete remission for 5 years or longer were evaluated as for late effects. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (2-18 years) were included, 68% belonged to the unfavorable risk group. Overall survival and event-free survival were 94 and 87%, respectively. Late effects were screened in 46 cases. Advanced stage and > or = four involved anatomic areas had negative impact on event-free survival, while only the number of involved anatomic areas retained statistical significance when using Cox analysis (hazard ratio = 6.4, 95%CI = 1.08-38.33; p = 0.04). Risk groups were adjusted by number of involved anatomic areas (< four/> or = four involved anatomic areas), with a significant reallocation of patients (p = 0.008). Of the 30 patients with late effects, 21 were in the original unfavorable risk group and 14 (66.6%) could have been reallocated to the favorable risk group based on the number of involved anatomic areas. CONCLUSIONS: If re-stratification had been applied, a considerable number of children would have received less intensive treatment and, consequently, could have had lower chances of late effects. A prospective study could define if adjustment of risk group by number of involved anatomic areas would have any impact on survival rates.

Candidiasis in pediatric patients with cancer interned in a university hospital / Candidíases em pacientes pediátricos com câncer internados em um hospital universitário

Fungi are common causes of infection in immunocompromised patients. Candida species are frequently involved in these cases. In order to investigate candidiasis in pediatric patients with cancer, clinical samples were collected from one hundred and twenty two patients interned in the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife, Brazil. Yeasts were isolated from thirty-four clinical samples. The species isolated were: Candida albicans (fourteen isolates), C. parapsilosis (nine isolates), C. guilliermondii (two isolates) and C. tropicalis (two isolates). We found that candidemia was most frequent in patients with malignant hematology and that C. parapsilosis infections caused the highest mortality.

Os fungos são causas comuns de infecções em pacientes imunocomprometidos e espécies de Candida são freqüentemente envolvidas nesses casos. A fim de investigar infecção fúngica em pacientes pediátricos com câncer, amostras clínicas foram coletadas de cento e vinte dois pacientes internados no Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz em Recife, Brasil. Leveduras foram isoladas de trinta e quatro amostras clínicas. As leveduras isoladas foram: Candida albicans (catorze isolados), C. parapsilosis (nove isolados), C. guilliermondii (dois isolados) e C. tropicalis (dois isolados). Descobrimos que candidemia foi mais freqüente em doentes com hematologias malignas e que C. parapsilosis apresentou maior mortalidade.

Número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas como preditor de risco no linfoma de Hodgkin em crianças: um estudo retrospectivo / Number of involved anatomic areas as a risk predictor in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma: a retrospective study

OBJETIVO: Determinar se o número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas pode modificar os grupos de risco padrão no linfoma de Hodgkin pediátrico, identificando as crianças que poderiam se beneficiar de uma redução da intensidade do tratamento. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com avaliação de idade, sexo, histologia, classificação de Ann-Arbor, presença de sintomas B, número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas, grupos de risco (favorável versus desfavorável) e exames laboratoriais. Todos os pacientes receberam quimioterapia com doxorrubicina. Os pacientes em remissão completa por 5 anos ou mais foram avaliados para a detecção de efeitos tardios. RESULTADOS: Sessenta e nove pacientes (2-18 anos) foram incluídos, sendo que 68 por cento pertenciam ao grupo de risco desfavorável. A sobrevida global e a sobrevida livre de eventos foram de 94 e 87 por cento, respectivamente. Os efeitos tardios foram detectados em 46 casos. Estágio avançado e > quatro áreas anatômicas envolvidas tiveram impacto negativo sobre a sobrevida livre de eventos, enquanto que o número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas apresentou significância estatística de acordo com a análise de Cox (razão de risco = 6,4; IC95 por cento = 1,08-38,33; p = 0,04). Os grupos de risco foram ajustados por número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas (< quatro/> quatro áreas anatômicas envolvidas), com uma significativa realocação de pacientes (p = 0,008). Dos 30 pacientes com efeitos tardios, 21 estavam no grupo de risco desfavorável original, e 14 poderiam ter sido realocados para o grupo de risco favorável com base no número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas. CONCLUSÃO: Se uma reestratificação tivesse sido aplicada, um número considerável de crianças teria recebido tratamento de menor intensidade e, consequentemente, poderia ter tido menores chances de apresentar efeitos tardios. Um estudo prospectivo poderia definir se o ajuste de grupos de risco pelo número de áreas anatômicas envolvidas teria algum impacto sobre ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the number of involved anatomic areas can modify the standard risk groups in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma, identifying children who would benefit from a reduction in treatment intensity. METHODS: Retrospective study evaluating age, sex, histology, Ann-Arbor stage, presence of B symptoms, number of involved anatomic areas, risk grouping (favorable vs. unfavorable), and laboratory exams. All patients received doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy. Patients in complete remission for 5 years or longer were evaluated as for late effects. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (2-18 years) were included, 68 percent belonged to the unfavorable risk group. Overall survival and event-free survival were 94 and 87 percent, respectively. Late effects were screened in 46 cases. Advanced stage and > four involved anatomic areas had negative impact on event-free survival, while only the number of involved anatomic areas retained statistical significance when using Cox analysis (hazard ratio = 6.4, 95 percentCI = 1.08-38.33; p = 0.04). Risk groups were adjusted by number of involved anatomic areas (< four/> four involved anatomic areas), with a significant reallocation of patients (p = 0.008). Of the 30 patients with late effects, 21 were in the original unfavorable risk group and 14 (66.6 percent) could have been reallocated to the favorable risk group based on the number of involved anatomic areas. CONCLUSION: If re-stratification had been applied, a considerable number of children would have received less intensive treatment and, consequently, could have had lower chances of late effects. A prospective study could define if adjustment of risk group by number of involved anatomic areas would have any impact on survival rates.

Candidiasis in pediatric patients with cancer interned in a university hospital.

Fungi are common causes of infection in immunocompromised patients. Candida species are frequently involved in these cases. In order to investigate candidiasis in pediatric patients with cancer, clinical samples were collected from one hundred and twenty two patients interned in the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife, Brazil. Yeasts were isolated from thirty-four clinical samples. The species isolated were: Candida albicans (fourteen isolates), C. parapsilosis (nine isolates), C. guilliermondii (two isolates) and C. tropicalis (two isolates). We found that candidemia was most frequent in patients with malignant hematology and that C. parapsilosis infections caused the highest mortality.

Myeloproliferative syndrome of monosomy 7: a brief report

We report the case of a five-month-old black male infant who had recurrent episodes of respiratory infections and also presented anemia and enlargements of the spleen, liver and lymphnodes. Hematological analysis revealed morphological abnormalities with megaloblastic dyserythropoiesis, while fetal hemoglobin assaying showed normal levels. Conventional and molecular cytogenetic analysis revealed monosomy of chromosome 7. Despite all therapeutic efforts during allogenic bone marrow transplantation, the child died due to generalized infection. The clinical and genetic distinctions between monosomy 7 syndrome and myelodysplastic disorders in childhood are discussed.

Avaliação clínica da frequência de complicações orais e sua relação com a qualidade de higiene bucal em pacientes pediátricos submetidos a tratamento antineoplásico / Clinical evaluation to the frequency of oral complications and its relation with the quality of buccal hygiene in pediatric patients submitted to antineoplastic treatment

Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar e identificar a presença de complicações orais agudas decorrentes do tratamento antineoplásico além de correlacionar com a condição de saúde bucal em 59 pacientes pediátricos submetidos a tratamento antineoplásico no CEONH/HUOC, com idade entre 0 e 18 anos. O aspecto clínico da mucosa bucal foi avaliado em intervalos semanais, no leito, sob luz artificial, com o auxílio de abaixador de língua, do início ao término do tratamento oncológico. Para a avaliação clínica da mucosite utilizou-se o critério de toxicidade aguda da World Health Organization (WHO). A saúde bucal foi avaliada na primeira consulta, através da inspeção visual e foi classificada como favorável ou desfavorável. Dos 59 pacientes, 36 (61 por cento) apresentavam saúde bucal favorável. Das complicações orais que acometeram os pacientes com qualidade de higiene bucal desfavorável, a candidíase correspondeu a 45,2 por cento, nos pacientes que apresentaram qualidade de higiene bucal favorável, a candidíase correspondeu a 26,1 por cento das complicações orais. A mucosite também foi mais freqüente nos pacientes com qualidade de higiene bucal desfavorável, 28,6 por cento das complicações orais. A orientação aos pacientes e seus responsáveis sobre a necessidade e importância de uma higiene bucal rigorosa é indispensável, considerando que a saúde bucal é um dos fatores que favorecem o aparecimento e aumento da severidade das complicações orais agudas decorrentes do tratamento antineoplásico.

Neuroblastoma intrarenal mimetizando tumor de Wilms / Intrarenal neuroblatoma mimics Wilms' tumor

No presente trabalho, os autores relatam o caso de uma criança com neuroblastoma intrarenal, que foi, inicialmente,diagnosticado como tumor de Wilms. Pré-escolar, sexo feminino, com um ano e três meses, apresentava uma tumoração endurecida que ocupava o hipocôndrio esquerdo e se estendia até a região do mesogástrio, acompanhada de febre e palidez. O ultra-som do abdome total revelou massa intrarenal. A biópsia por agulha fina, em vários pontos de acesso tumoral, revelou um tumor de Wilms. Entretanto, não foi possível naquele momento realizar a imunohistoquímica (IHQ), face à escassez de material. Diante da gravidade da paciente, foi iniciado o protocolo SIOP por quatro semanas. Como não houve resposta clínica, foi indicada uma laparotomia exploradora, com ressecção parcial do tumor, sendo também, nesse momento, realizada punção aspirativa de medula óssea (MO). O exame histopatológico revelou neoplasia maligna de pequenas células mal diferenciadas. A IHQ foi negativa para WT-1 e positiva para NB-84, cromogranina e sinaptofisina. A biologia molecular revelou amplificação de N-myc. O mielograma identificou infiltração medular por pequenas células redondas. O neuroblastoma intrarenal é um tumor raro que se assemelha clínica e radiologicamente ao tumor de Wilms. Esse trabalho procura enfatizar a importância do emprego de análises imunohistoquímica e moleculares para o diagnóstico do neuroblastoma intrarenal.

This work reports the case history of a child with intrarenal neuroblastoma, initially diagnosed as Wilms' tumor.The patient, a one year and three months old girl, presented a hard abdominal mass on the left flank that extended to the mesogastric region, plus fever and paleness. The ultrasound of the entire abdomen revealed an intrarenal mass. Biopsy with fine needle in many points of the tumor revealed Wilms' tumor. The scarcety of the material, however, made immunohistoquemistry impossible at that moment. Because of the child's severe condition the SIOP protocol was started. As no clinical response was observed, an exploratory laparatomy was indicated with partial resection of the tumor and bone marrow aspiration (MO). The histopathologic study revealed a malignant neoplasia of small cells, poorly differentiated. IHQ was negative for WT-1 and positive for NB-84, synaptofisin, cromogranine. N-myc amplification was observed by molecular biology. The bone marrow aspiration identified matastatic small round cells infiltration. Intrarenal neuroblastoma is a rare entity that clinically and radiographicallyresembles Wilms' tumor. The objective of this case report is to show the importance of immunohistochemical andmolecular analysis in the diagnosis of intrarenal neuroblastoma.

t(4; 11) (q21; q23) in acute myeloid leukemia-M0 following treatment [EW92 Protocol] for Ewing's sarcoma / Leucemia mielóide aguda-M0 com t(4;11) (q21;q23) após tratamento para sarcoma de Ewing com o protocolo EW92

Nós descrevemos o caso clínico de uma criança do sexo feminino, com 7 anos de idade, portadora de sarcoma de Ewing, que evoluiu com leucemia aguda mielóide pouco diferenciada (LMA-M0) após vinte meses de tratamento utilizando o protocolo EW92. Ela recebeu uma dose total de 1.500 mg de etoposídio, irradiação tumoral na dose total de 35G, e fator de estimulação de colônia granulocítica (G-CSF) conforme programação do protocolo terapêutico. Os exames laboratoriais, por ocasião do diagnóstico da segunda malignidade, mostraram células blásticas imaturas caracterizadas pela expressão de CD34+/CD33-/aMPO+ e a translocação t(4;11) (q 21;q23). A exclusão do G-CSF nos esquemas terapêuticos que associam etoposídio e irradiação tumoral se justifica devido a esta séria complicação no tratamento do sarcoma de Ewing.