Evaluation of Pathway to Diagnosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors in Tamil Nadu, India.

Purpose: Delayed diagnosis and poor awareness are significant barriers to the early intervention of pediatric brain tumors. This multicenter observational study aimed to evaluate the baseline routes and time to diagnosis for pediatric brain tumors in Tamil Nadu (TN), with the goal of promoting early diagnosis and timely referrals in the future.

Methods: A standard proforma was used to retrospectively collect information on demographics, diagnosis, referral pathways, and symptoms of incident pediatric brain tumor cases between January 2018 and October 2020 across eight tertiary hospitals in TN.

The Outcome of Pediatric Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Experience from a Referral Center in South India.

Unlabelled: Although improved survival in children with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL) has been demonstrated in trials, the outcome appears to be inferior in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Methods A file review of children aged ≤ 15 years diagnosed with Ph-ALL from 2010 to 2019 was performed. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed by flow-cytometry.

What happens to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in low- and middle-income countries after relapse? A single-center experience from India.

Managing a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after relapse is arduous in low- and middle-income countries. A file review of children aged ≤15 years diagnosed with relapsed ALL from 2010 to 2019 was performed. Classification of relapse followed the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) scheme.

The Nutritional Trajectory of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A 10-Year Follow up Study from a Referral Center in South India.

Objective: Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are vulnerable to late adverse events such as obesity and an associated metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Children treated for ALL from 2002 to 2012 were included. BMI was calculated at diagnosis, end of treatment, and 5, 8, and 10-years from diagnosis.

Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) in the differential diagnosis of osteogenic and non-osteogenic bone and soft tissue tumors.

Background: The diagnosis of osteosarcoma (OSA) depends on clinicopathological and radiological correlation. A biopsy is considered the gold standard for OSA diagnosis. However, since OSA is a great histological mimicker, diagnostic challenges exist.

Long-Term Outcomes and Prognostic Factors Affecting Survival after Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Solid Tumors of Childhood: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: This study assessed the long-term survival and the prognostic variables affecting survival following pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) secondary to childhood solid tumors.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was done on 22 children who underwent PM for solid tumors between January 2007 and February 2020. The overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) at the end of the study period were noted.

Postchemotherapy tumor volume as a prognostic indicator in Wilms tumor: A single-center experience from South India.

Background: Optimal risk stratification is the key to minimizing relapse and toxicity in children with Wilms tumor (WT). The study evaluated poor tumor volume response to chemotherapy as a risk factor that predicts relapse.

Procedure: Children with WT who were treated between 2005 and 2020 at the center were analyzed.

A pragmatic diagnostic approach to primary intracranial germ cell tumors and their treatment outcomes.

Primary intracranial germ cell tumors (ICGCT) are often diagnosed with tumor markers and imaging, which may avoid the need for a biopsy. An intracranial germ cell tumor with mild elevation of markers is seldom stratified as a distinct entity. Fifty-nine patients were stratified into three groups: pure germinoma (PG), secreting germinoma (SG) and non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs).

Complete Peripheral Blast Clearance is Superior to the Conventional Cut-Off of 1000/µL in Predicting Relapse in Pediatric Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Risk-stratification has contributed to a dramatic improvement in survival in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This study evaluated the utility of prephase response and day 15 bone marrow when a minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment was available. A file review of children aged ≤ 15 years diagnosed with precursor-B ALL from 2014 to 2019 was performed.

The Unique Balancing Act of Managing Children With Cancer and COVID-19 Infection: A Single Center Experience From South India.

Children with cancer are vulnerable to severe infections. Balancing the intensive treatment of cancer, with the potential risk of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related morbidity and mortality is a unique challenge. Children with cancer testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction at our center were studied.

A single assessment of methotrexate levels at 42 hours permits safe administration and early discharge in children with lymphoblastic lymphoma and leukemia receiving high-dose methotrexate.

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is an important component of treatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL). Optimal rescue therapy is essential for the safe administration of HDMTX. A cost-effective strategy that does not compromise safety is necessary for low- and middle-income countries.

Palonosetron is a Better Choice Compared With Ondansetron for the Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in a Resource-limited Pediatric Oncology Center: Results From a Randomized Control Trial.

Palonosetron (PG) is a newer, safe, and effective long-acting 5-HT3 antagonist commonly used in adults, but data in children are limited. A randomized controlled trial was carried out among children with cancer during their first cycle of moderate or highly emetogenic chemotherapy to receive either PG or ondansetron (OG) with the aim of comparing their efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. In total, 200 children (mean age, 8 y, male:female=1.

Clinical outcomes of children with Wilms tumor treated on a SIOP WT 2001 protocol in a tertiary care hospital in south India.

Introduction: Wilms tumor is the most common pediatric renal malignancy. While developed countries have had excellent survival, it remains poorer by comparison in developing countries. The aim was to analyze the clinical outcome of children with Wilms tumor managed in a developing country from 2004 to 2014 by the SIOP WT 2001 protocol.

Histoplasma capsulatum Infection with Extensive Lytic Bone Lesions Mimicking LCH.

Multiple lytic bone lesions in a child can be a manifestation of various diseases like Langerhans cell histiocytosis, metastatic neuroblastoma, leukemia, hyperparathyroidism, multifocal osteomyelitis and histoplasmosis. Disseminated histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii is well known to present with multiple osteolytic lesions in immunocompromised adults and is mostly restricted to the African subcontinent.

Steroid-responsive anemia in patients of Ghosal hematodiaphyseal dysplasia: simple to diagnose and easy to treat.

Ghosal hematodiaphyseal dysplasia (GHDD) is a recently recognized cause of steroid-responsive anemia. We would like to report 3 cases of GHDD who presented in early childhood with moderate to severe anemia, splenomegaly, and a hypocellular marrow with increased reticulin. They were easily diagnosed with long-bone x-rays showing diaphyseal and metaphyseal widening and loss of diaphyseal constriction.

Liver metastasis in an adolescent treated for third ventricle germ cell tumor.

Systemic dissemination of intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) occur only in 3% of cases and the common sites are bone, lungs, and lymph nodes. Metastasis to the liver is rare. As far as we could find, only six cases of liver metastasis of intracranial GCTs have been reported so far.

Ifosfamide induced renal rickets.

Ifosfamide is commonly used as a chemotherapeutic agent in children. The authors report a 4-y-old boy who developed proximal renal tubulopathy with florid rickets a year after completion of ifosfamide therapy for Ewing's sarcoma. After initiation of treatment, there was complete healing of rickets and he did not need supplements beyond 18 mo.