Analysis of the Pediatric Radiotherapy Landscape in Mexico and a Subsequent Educational e-Contouring Intervention.

PURPOSE: Mexico and Central America have the highest childhood cancer incidence in the West. Pediatric-specific oncology knowledge contributes to the disparity. We sought to (1) determine the self-identified treatment patterns and needs of Mexican pediatric radiation oncologists and (2) pilot a workshop to improve contouring accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Partnering with local experts and the Sociedad Mexicana de Radioterapeutas (SOMERA), a 35-question survey was designed to ascertain pediatric radiotherapy capacity and distributed through the SOMERA listserv. The most challenging malignancies were selected for workshop. Participants received precontouring and postcontouring homework to assess improvement per the Dice metric. The Wilcoxon sign-rank test was used for comparative statistics. RESULTS: Ninety-four radiation oncologists attempted and 79 completed the survey. Forty-four (76%) felt comfortable treating a pediatric patient, and 36 (62%) were familiar with national protocols for pediatric treatment. Most had access to nutrition, rehabilitation, endocrinology, and anesthesia; 14% had access to fertility services and 27% to neurocognitive support; 11% noted no support, and only one respondent had child-life support. The postsurvey contouring workshop was conducted for high-grade glioma, medulloblastoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Significant improvements were seen in all target volumes. CONCLUSION: We present the first national survey of Mexico's pediatric radiotherapy capacity and Latin American e-contouring educational intervention with preworkshop and postworkshop Dice metrics, noting statistically significant improvement in all target volumes. Participation improved compared with prior experience through SOMERA partnership and Continuing Medical Education incentivization.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the pediatric population. Report of two cases and a review of the literature]. / Tumores estromales del tracto gastrointestinal en población pediátrica. Informe de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that occur predominantly in adults. GISTs in pediatric patients are rare and not well characterized. We reviewed the presentation, diagnostic work-up, pathological specimens, and outcomes of two children with GIST that originated from the stomach. Literature pertaining to pediatric GISTs was also reviewed. CLINICAL CASES: Both patients presented with upper GI bleeding from a gastric tumor. The first patient was a 10-year-old male who underwent partial gastrectomy but had recurrence 26 years later requiring surgical exploration due to extensive infiltration into the surrounding organs; the tumor was not resected. The patient is currently being treated with imatinib mesylate. The second patient was a 12-year-old female who had a pedunculated mass originating from the stomach and requiring resection. She subsequently had a local recurrence 2 years later requiring partial gastrectomy. Adjuvant imatinib mesylate was recommended because of the large size of the tumor (8 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric GISTs represent a distinct subset of sarcomas with a strong predominance for females and gastric location, with 56 cases reported in the English-language literature.

Tumores estromales del tracto gastrointestinal en población pediátrica: informe de dos casos y revisión de la literatura / Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the pediatric population: report of two cases and a review of the literature

Introducción: El tumor estromal del tracto gastrointestinal es una neoplasia rara que se presentan por lo general en la quinta a séptima década de la vida; en pacientes pediátricos es menos frecuente que en adultos y no está bien caracterizado. En esta descripción se evalúa presentación, diagnóstico clínicopatológico y evolución de dos niños con tumor estromal del tracto gastrointestinal originado en el estómago; también se revisa la literatura respecto a la experiencia mundial que se tiene con este tipo de tumor en la población pediátrica. Casos clínicos: Ambos pacientes iniciaron con hematemesis debido a un tumor gástrico. El primer paciente tenía 10 años de edad cuando se le practicó gastrectomía parcial; después de 26 años experimentó recurrencia local de la enfermedad, por lo que se le practicó laparotomía exploradora que mostró neoplasia con extensa infiltración a órganos vecinos. La neoplasia fue irresecable; se prescribió tratamiento con mesilato de imatinib. El segundo caso correspondió a una niña quien a los 12 años de edad presentó una masa unida a la pared gástrica por un pedículo, la cual fue resecada. Dos años después por recurrencia local se le practicó gastrectomía parcial. Se recomendó mesilato de imatinib como tratamiento adyuvante debido a que el tumor tenía 8 cm de diámetro mayor. Conclusiones: El tumor estromal del tracto gastrointestinal de presentación en la edad pediátrica representa un subgrupo distintivo de sarcomas que predomina en niñas y que por lo general afecta el estómago. En una revisión de la literatura solo se encontraron 56 casos de dicha neoplasia. El pronóstico es variable y heterogéneo. La resección completa de la neoplasia es indispensable y el tratamiento adyuvante con mesilato de imatinib se recomienda para los casos con alto riesgo.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that occur predominantly in adults. GISTs in pediatric patients are rare and not well characterized. We reviewed the presentation, diagnostic work-up, pathological specimens, and outcomes of two children with GIST that originated from the stomach. Literature pertaining to pediatric GISTs was also reviewed. CLINICAL CASES: Both patients presented with upper GI bleeding from a gastric tumor. The first patient was a 10-year-old male who underwent partial gastrectomy but had recurrence 26 years later requiring surgical exploration due to extensive infiltration into the surrounding organs; the tumor was not resected. The patient is currently being treated with imatinib mesylate. The second patient was a 12-year-old female who had a pedunculated mass originating from the stomach and requiring resection. She subsequently had a local recurrence 2 years later requiring partial gastrectomy. Adjuvant imatinib mesylate was recommended because of the large size of the tumor (8 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric GISTs represent a distinct subset of sarcomas with a strong predominance for females and gastric location, with 56 cases reported in the English-language literature.