Diagnosis of malignancies in children with musculoskeletal complaints.

Context: Musculoskeletal complaints may be associated with neoplasias as an initial manifestation of the disease. When these symptoms predominate at the onset of the disease, the differential diagnosis includes several rheumatic diseases.

Objective: To assess the frequency, clinical features and types of cancer manifested in children presenting with musculoskeletal complaints over a seven-year period.