Treatment-related death in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the Nordic countries: 1992-2001.

Despite continuously more successful treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), 2-5% of children still die of other causes than relapse. The Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology-ALL92 protocol included 1652 patients < or =15 years of age with precursor B- and T-cell ALL diagnosed between 1992 and 2001. Induction deaths and deaths in first complete remission (CR1) were included in the study.

Few but severe viral infections in children with cancer: a prospective RT-PCR and PCR-based 12-month study.

Background: Treatment of low-risk febrile episodes with oral administered antibiotics at home is a new approach in pediatric oncology and protective isolation is loosened in more centers. The impact of viral respiratory infections in febrile diseases in this population is still unclear in terms of occurrence and morbidity.

Procedure: A prospective follow-up study of all febrile episodes during 12 months in a pediatric oncology department with a high level of protective isolation was set-up with expanded molecular viral examinations.