Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor in childhood solid tumors: plasma and serum measurements.

Background: Serum and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured in children with a solid tumor to investigate which provides better prognostic information.

Patients And Methods: Seventeen patients under treatment were divided into two groups: without (n 8) and with (n 9) detectable disease at radiological assessment (groups I and II). The control group consisted of 26 healthy children.

Barrett esophagus in long-term survivors of childhood solid tumors.

We report on 2 cases of long-term survivors of childhood solid tumors, who developed Barrett esophagus (BE) after treatment for neuroblastoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively. Case 1: A stage 3 neuroblastoma was treated with surgery, carboplatin/etoposide chemotherapy, and supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (30 Gy). Twelve years later, based on endoscopic and histologic findings, BE was diagnosed on the middle segment.

Venous thrombosis and procoagulant factors in high-risk neuroblastoma.

Aim: The mechanism of increased thrombin production has been investigated in children with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB), to detect any possible association between catheter- related venous thrombosis (VT) and prothrombotic factors.

Methods: Consecutive children with high-risk NB were studied by color-doppler ultrasonography of the upper vein system and thrombophilia factors assessment. Plasma levels of Tissue Factor (TF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Prothrombin Activation Fragment 1+2, and Thrombin-Antithrombin Complex were evaluated.

Congenital stage 1 neuroblastoma evolved into stage 4s.

A newborn with a prenatally detected adrenal mass underwent complete resection of a stage 1 favorable histology neuroblastoma (NB) without MYC-N amplification. Two months later, the infant presented with a local recurrence and multiple hepatic metastases. Close follow-up without therapy was adopted for stage 4s NB.

Venous thrombosis in children with solid tumors.

Background: The prevalence of venous thrombosis (VT) in children with solid tumor and the role of different risk factors are not defined yet.

Aim: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic catheter-associated thrombosis events in children affected with different solid tumors.

Methods: Patients with a solid tumor, admitted as day-care, were consecutively enrolled over a period of 10 months.

Growth hormone deficiency after localized ganglioneuroblastoma: A case report.

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) related to standard dose chemotherapy has rarely been described. We report on a case of localized ganglioneuroblastoma treated by carboplatin/etoposide for 2 courses and surgery, which developed a serious GHD after 56 months. At present, the child is growing on by GH replacement therapy.