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Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSIs) are common complications encountered with cancer treatment. The aims of this study were to analyze the factors associated with recurrent infection and catheter removal in pediatric hematology-oncology patients. All cases of CABSIs in patients attending the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology between January 2008 and December 2010 were reviewed. A total of 44 episodes of CABSIs, including multiple episodes involving the same catheter, were identified in 31 children with cancer. The overall CABSIs rate was 7.4 infections per 1000 central venous catheter (CVC) days. The most frequent organism isolated was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS). The CVC was removed in nine (20.4%) episodes. We found that hypotension, persistent bacteremia, Candida infection, exit-side infection, neutropenia, and prolonged duration of neutropenia were the factors for catheter removal. There were 23 (52.2%) episodes of recurrence or reinfection. Mortality rate was found to be 9.6% in children with CABSIs. In this study, we found that CABSIs rate was 7.4 infections per 1000 catheter-days. CABSIs rates in our hematology-oncology patients are comparable to prior reports. Because CONS is the most common isolated microorganism in CABSIs, vancomycin can be considered part of the initial empirical regimen.

This study aimed to examine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of hyperuricemia and tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).This retrospective study included data from 327 patients (113 NHL and 214 ALL).Hyperuricemia occurred in 26.5% and 12.6% of the patients with NHL and ALL, respectively. The corresponding figures for TLS were 15.9% and 0.47% (p=0.001). All hyperuricemic NHL patients had advanced disease and renal involvement was present in 53%. All hyperuricemic ALL patients had a leukocyte count50,000 mm3 at the time of diagnosis. Among the hyperuricemic NHL and ALL patients, 96.6% and 66.6% had LDH ≥500 UI/L, respectively. Treatment consisted of hydration and allopurinol; none of the patients received urate oxidase. Among the patients that developed TLS, 26.3% had laboratory TLS, 42.1% had grade I or II TLS, and 31.6% had grade III or IV TLS. Uric acid levels returned to normal after a mean period of 3.5±2.5 and 3.05±0.8 d in NHL and ALL groups, respectively. In all, 7% of the patients with hyperuricemia required hemodialysis. None of the patients died.In this series the factors associated with a high-risk for TLS were renal involvement in NHL and high leucocyte count in ALL. Management with allopurinol and hydration was effective in this group of patients with high tumor burden.AMAÇ: Çalışmanın amacı NHL ve ALL’li çocuklarda hiperürisemi ve TLS sıklığını, klinik özellikleri ve sonuçlarını tanımlamaktır. YÖNTEMLER: Bu retrospektif çalışmada 113 NHL ve 214 ALL’li toplam 327 hastanın verileri değerlendirildi.NHL olgularının %26.5’inde, ALL olgularının %12.6’sında hiperürisemi görüldü. TLS insidansı NHL ve ALL gruplarında %15.9 ve %0.47 bulundu (p=0.001). Hiperürisemi görülen NHL olgularının tümü ileri evrede olup, %53’ünde renal tutulum vardı. Tüm hiperürisemili ALL olgularında tanıda lökosit sayımı 50.000/mm3’den yüksekti. Hiperürisemik NHL grubunun %96.6’sında, ALL grubunun %66.6’sında LDH ≥500 UI/L idi. Tedavide hidrasyon ve allopürinol uygulandı, ürat oksidaz verilen hasta olmadı. TLS gelişen olguların %26.3’ünde laboratuvar TLS, %42,1’inde grade I ve grade II TLS, %31.6’sında grade III ve IV TLS saptandı. Ürik asit düzeyleri NHL ve ALL hastalarında ortalama 3.5±2.5 ve 3.05±0.8 günde normale döndü. Hiperürisemili hastaların %7’sinde hemodiyaliz gerekti. Mortalite olmadı. SONUÇ: Bu seride en yüksek TLS riski renal tutulumu olan NHL olgularında saptandı. Allopürinol ve hidrasyonun tümör yükü yüksek olan bu grupta etkili olduğu gözlendi.

Aim: The objective of this study is to evaluate the febrile neutropenia attacks in the children who have been treated for cancer in our center. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and December 2005, 57 patients with lymphoma and solid organ tumors who, had a total of 206 attacks of febril neutropenia were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), absolute monocyte count (AMC) levels at the time of febril neutropenia attacks were 296 +/- 342/mm(3), 518 +/- 896/mm(3), 144 +/- 262/mm(3), respectively. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 7.63 +/- 7.06 mg/dL, Hb level was 8.67 +/- 1.74 g/dL and fever was 38.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C. There were no infection focus in the 57.3% of the attacks (n=118) and the most common infection focuses were pharyngitis and mucositis and they were seen in the 14% and 12.1% of the attacks, respectively. Combination of third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were given in 87.8% (n=181) of the attacks. Bacteremia was found in 14.6% (n=30). The rate of isolated gram negative bacteria (60%) was higher than the others. The most common agents isolated were E.coli, Enterobacter cloaca and S.epidermidis in 16.7%, 13.3% and 13.3%, respectively. The success rate of therapy was found as 67.5%. There were no correlations between the infection focus and AMC, ANC, CRP levels, and mucositis and bacteremia. The presence of mucositis prolonged the duration of hospitalization. There were no significant differences between therapy regimens according to success of therapy, bacteremia and duration of hospitalization. The duration of neutropenia was longer in neuroblastoma and brain tumors. The mortality rate was found as 1.45%. Conclusions: The rate of gram negative bacteremia was higher in our study. None of our patients had central venous catheters, so we thought that this could be the reason to the lower rate of isolated gram positive bacteria. The response rate to the treatment was good and mortality rate was low with the empirical treatment by cephalosporin and aminoglycoside combination.

Bone mineral density (BMD) and anthropometric measurements in pediatric cancer patients were evaluated and compared at early and late posttreatment periods. Sixty-six pediatric cancer patients who recovered completely following treatment longer than at least a 6-month period were included in the study. Patients were evaluated cross-sectionally and prospectively with regard to anthropometric measurements and BMD twice; the first being at a mean period of 2.62 +/- 1.44 years and the second of 6.55 +/- 1.71 years after the completion of treatment. Rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia at first or second evaluation were 25.8% and 39.4% or 10.6% and 19.7%, respectively. Mean BMD z-scores were (-1.26) +/- 1.12 [(-4.3)-2.0] and (-0.48) +/- 1.25 [(-3.30)-3.40] at first and second evaluations, respectively. BMD findings obtained at second evaluation revealed statistically significant recovery compared with those obtained at first evaluation (P = .001). BMD z-scores were significantly lower in patients who received, as opposed to those who did not receive, radiotherapy (RT) at both evaluations. Anthropometric parameters of patients such as height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were increased at both evaluations compared with values obtained at diagnosis (P < .05). Height standard deviation score (SDS) decreased at first evaluation compared with that measured at diagnosis, whereas it increased at second evaluation. Conversely, weight SDS and BMI SDS increased (P < .05) at first evaluation compared with that measured at diagnosis, whereas they decreased at second evaluation. The authors conclude that early impairments in anthropometric measurements recover in the long term, whereas BMD is continually reduced in children who recovered from cancer.

Anemia, which is a common problem in cancer patients, has a negative effect on survival by decreasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and particularly of radiotherapy, as well as impairing the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) decreases a patient's need for transfusions and increases their QoL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of weekly single-dose EPO treatment on transfusion rates, QoL, and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. In addition, patients were followed up for a long period to assess the impact of EPO treatment on survival. The study was conducted from December 2001 to December 2002 in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma or solid tumors using a prospective and controlled design. EPO-beta was given as a single dose of 450 U/kg once a week for 12 weeks. The study and control groups included 16 patients each. Hb levels measured in the study group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks were significantly higher than the values recorded before the start of chemotherapy. In the control group, Hb levels post chemotherapy were significantly lower than values recorded prior to treatment. The increased Hb levels in the study group were significant at the 8th and 12th weeks of treatment compared to levels measured prior to treatment. In the control group, Hb levels at the 4th and 8th weeks were significantly lower than pretreatment levels. When the percent increase of Hb levels of the study and control groups with respect to treatment week was compared, the difference was statistically significant at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. Although the increase on the performance scale within each group during treatment was significant in both the study and control groups, the increase was more marked in the study group. The percent increase on the performance scale with respect to week of treatment was higher in the study group than in the control group. In EPO treatment group, side effects were seen in 38% of patients, with 19% being local pain in the injection area, 13% local hyperemia, and 6% headache. The mean follow-up period of the study and control group was 7.03 +/- 0.41 (6.0-7.41) and 7.46 +/- 0.45 (6.58-7.83) years, respectively; no statistically significant difference existed between these figures. Overall survival at the end of 7 years of follow-up was 68.8% and 81.3% for the study and control groups, respectively. The use of EPO-beta in lymphoma and solid tumor patients on a once-weekly regimen (450 U/kg) was determined to be effective in increasing Hb levels, decreasing transfusion rates, and improving QoL. This regimen was safe, did not cause serious side effects, and can be recommended because of its high patient compliance and tolerability. An effect of EPO on prognosis was not evident. We could not have an explanation on the effect of EPO treatment on prognosis, as there were low number of patients and advanced-staged patients died earlier. Therefore, a larger number of patients are needed to clarify the effect of EPO treatment on prognosis.

Objective: Post-treatment endocrine disturbances are common in cancer patients who have received radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the thyroid functions of long-term survivors of pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Methods: Thyroid functions of 55 Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (M/F:2.05/1) in complete remission were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 10.35 +/- 4.09 (range: 2.83-17) years and the mean follow-up period was 5.54 +/- 3.68 (range: 0.92-13.92) years. All patients received chemotherapy; a total of 50 patients (90.9%) underwent radiotherapy, 42 (76.4%) of whom received neck/mantle radiotherapy. Thyroid function tests were abnormal in 14 (24.5%) patients and normal - in the remaining 41 (74.5%). A diagnosis of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism was made in 11 (78.6%) and 3 (21.4%) patients with abnormal thyroid function tests, respectively. Nearly one-fourth (21.4%) of all thyroid function disorders were detected in the first year of follow-up. A statistically significant correlation was found between the dose of mantle radiotherapy and thyroid function disorder (p=0.002). In addition, statistically significant correlations were established between thyroid examination or thyroid ultrasonography findings and thyroid functions (p

Some children with malignancies initially present with neurologic signs. Cavernous sinus syndrome is a rare manifestation of lymphomas, more commonly reported in adults. A patient presenting with third and fourth cranial nerve palsies was initially thought to manifest Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, but during follow-up a diagnosis of lymphoma without systemic involvement was established. This patient is the youngest, to our knowledge, to be diagnosed with primary cavernous sinus lymphoma. He remains in remission 5 years after chemotherapy. Malignancies (especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) should be considered in young children with cavernous sinus syndrome, even without systemic involvement.

Background. There is a risk of viral hepatitis for children with cancer. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in countries with high prevalence cause major problems in the management of cancer patients. in this study, we evaluated the incidence and chronicity of HBV and HCV infections in children with malignant diseases receiving chemotherapy. Procedure. One hundred ninety-eight children with cancer (mean age=7.5 +/- 2.5 years) and 100 healthy children as a control group were screened for HBV and HCV. Liver function tests, the number of transfusions, HBV and HCV serology were regularly monitored. In seropositive children, HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA were measured. Chronic hepatitis was defined as having an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level three times of upper normal limit, positive HBV and HCV antigenemia for longer than 6 months. Liver biopsies were performed in all children with chronic hepatitis. The relationship between the chronic hepatitis and study parameters was statistically analyzed. Results. HBsAg positivity, anti-HCV, and mixed (HBV and HCV) infection were found in 11.6, 5.5, 2% of children, respectively. Most HBV infected children developed chronic hepatitis (48%) while 26 and 21.7% became carriers and immune, respectively. One died of acute fulminant HBV hepatitis. Of HCV infected children, 63.6% also had positive HCV-RNA. Four children with mixed infection (100%) all progressed to chronic hepatitis. In this setting, chronic hepatitis was observed in 22 of 38 infected children (57.8%). The majority had leukemia and lymphoma. Children with HBsAg antigenemia developed chronic hepatitis in shorter time than HCV positive children (median 13 months vs. 51 months, P