Childhood carcinoid tumors: description of a case series in a Brazilian cancer center.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Carcinoid tumors are very rare both in children and adults. About 85% of these tumors develop in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of the present study was to describe our experience with children treated of carcinoid tumors, and investigate the frequency morphological findings and results. DESIGN AND SETTING: Report on case series, at the Department of Pediatrics of Centro de Tratamento e Pesquisa Hospital do Câncer, São Paulo. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical pathological data and outcomes among children (< 18 years old) with carcinoid tumors admitted from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2001. RESULTS: Nine patients (mean age 12.2 years) were included: six girls and three boys (2:1), all of them Caucasian. In eight cases (89%), the primary tumor site was the appendix and in one (11%) it was the left bronchus. For those with primary tumor in the appendix, the main complaint was abdominal pain, which led to appendectomy. Only one patient underwent right hemicolectomy due to tumor extension into the serosa. The patient with bronchial tumor underwent left pneumonectomy. All patients had localized disease and are alive and free of disease. They have had follow-ups lasting from 1 to 11 years (mean of 3.5 years). CONCLUSION: Although the majority of carcinoid tumors arise from the appendix, these tumors can also occur in other primary sites. Surgical resection at an early stage allows for good prognosis without the need for any adjuvant treatment.

Treatment of pediatric myelodysplastic syndromes and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: the Brazilian experience in the past decade.

BACKGROUND: Therapy strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) vary considerably. OBJECTIVE: To review the treatment of Brazilian children who were diagnosed with MDS or JMML in the past decade and reported to the Brazilian Cooperative Group on Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes (BCG-MDS-PED). RESULTS: Of 173 children reported to the BCG-MDS-PED from January 1997 to January 2003 with a suspected diagnosis of MDS or JMML, 91 had the diagnosis confirmed after central review of the bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. Information on previous treatments was available for 78 MDS/JMML patients. Treatment varied from different schedules of low-dose (14%) and standard-dose chemotherapy (50%), granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF 7%), interferon (5%), steroids (2%) and erythropoietin (2%) to allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) (14%). No survival advantage could be demonstrated based on Hasle's classification or based on treatment. CONCLUSION: This report reflects the current practice in treating Brazilian children with MDS/JMML without specific Cooperative Group guidelines. Treatment modalities were very heterogeneous. The strategies for implementing a national protocol should consider international guidelines and focus on local experience and available resources.

Childhood carcinoid tumors: description of a case series in a Brazilian cancer center

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Tumores carcinóides são bastante raros, tanto em crianças quanto em adultos. Cerca de 85% deles desenvolvem-se no trato gastrintestinal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a experiência de nossa instituição com crianças tratadas de tumores carcinóides, investigando sua freqüência, achados morfológicos e resultados. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Relato de série de casos, no Departmento de Pediatria do Centro de Tratamento e Pesquisa Hospital do Câncer, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva de dados clinicopatológicos e resultados de crianças menores de 18 anos de idade com tumores carcinóides, admitidas entre 1º de janeiro de 1990 e 31 de dezembro de 2001. RESULTADOS: O estudo inclui nove pacientes, todos brancos, com idade média de 12,2 anos, sendo seis meninas e três meninos (2:1). O apêndice foi o sítio primário em oito casos (89%) e o brônquio esquerdo em um caso (11%). Nos primeiros, o sintoma principal foi dor abdominal que levou a apendicectomia. Apenas um paciente foi submetido a hemicolectomia direita em razão da extensão do tumor na serosa. O paciente que tinha o tumor primário no brônquio foi submetido a pneumectomia à esquerda. Todos os pacientes tinham doença localizada e estão vivos sem doença, com acompanhamento de 1 a 11 anos (média de 3,5 anos). CONCLUSÃO: Embora a maioria dos tumores carcinóides tenha sua origem no apêndice, eles podem ocorrer em outros sítios. A ressecção cirúrgica em estágios iniciais permite um bom prognóstico sem necessidade de tratamento adjuvante.

Histiocitose de células de Langerhans com envolvimento ungueal em criança: relato de caso / Langerhans cell histiocytosis with nail involvement in childhood: a case report

A histiocitose de células de Langerhans pode apresentar-se de diversas formas clínicas. Neste trabalho, os autores relatam caso de menino de três anos de idade com queixa de otite média crônca e tumoração na região da mastóide direita. O exame anatomopatológico revelou histiocitose. O paciente apresentava dermatite importante no couro cabeludo e alterações distróficas com onicólise, pústulas e deformidades ungueais nos dedos das mãos e pés. As lesões responderam à terapia antineoplásica. O aparecimento de lesões distróficas ungueais na histiocitose de células de Langerhans é raro em crianças. Esse caso clínico sugere que o tratamento com terapia antineoplásica pode ser eficaz.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis may appear in a variety of ways. The authors present the case report of a 3-year-old white boy with a main complaint about chronic media otitis and a tumor lesion in right mastoid bone. Pathology revealed histiocytosis. The patient had severe dermatitis on the scalp and dystrophic changes with onycholysis, pustules, and nail plate deformity underneath all fingernails and toenails. These lesions responded to antineoplastic therapy. Development of nail dystrophics in Langerhans cell histiocytosis is unusual in children. This case suggests that treatment with antineoplastic therapy might be effective.

Influência das características clínicas e biológicas no prognóstico de lactentes com leucemia linfocítica aguda: proposta de um escore preditivo com inclusão de polimorfismo genético / Clinical and biologic characteristics on the prognosis of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. proposal of a predictive score including genetic polymorphism

Leucemias agudas da infância formam um grupo heterogêneo de doenças hematológicas malignas. Revisando-se sua epidemiologia descritiva e analítica, pode-se enfatizar que além de fatores clínicos e laboratoriais, aspectos biológicos, como subtipos morfológicos, achados citogenéticos e marcadores moleculares, também interferem de maneira significativa na sobrevida dos pacientes. De forma geral, leucemias em lactentes têm características epidemiológicas, biológicas e clínicas distintas em relação aos pacientes mais velhos... Objetivos: Analisar as características clínicas e biológicas de pacientes lactentes (< 24 meses de vida), identificar fatores prognósticos clínicos e biológicos, construir escore prognóstico e estimar a probabilidade de sobrevida global (SG) para o grupo estudado. Casuística e métodos: Retrospectivamente, foram analisadas as informações clínicas e biológicas de 249 pacientes com leucemia linfóide aguda (LLA), menores de 24 meses de idade e inscritos na Divisão de Medicina Experimental, Centro de Pesquisa (MedEx, CPq) do Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, entre janeiro de 1990 e dezembro de 2003. Resultados: O grupo apresentou as seguintes características: discreta predominância do sexo feminino; 74% de raça branca; mediana de idade de 14,1 meses (57% eram lactentes ≤ 14 meses de idade); para pacientes ≤ 14 meses, 57% tinham entre 6 e 14 meses e 26% tinham ≤ 3 meses; 55% dos pacientes apresentavam contagem leucocitária menor que 50x109/l; 54% apresentavam CD10 negativo; 50% dos casos tinham imunofenótipo B comum e 42% eram pró-B ... Conclusões: Na casuística estudada, os resultados obtidos mostraram que a LLA em pacientes lactentes origina-se de células mais imaturas e preditivas de doença mais agressiva. A continuação do estudo das características biológicas de forma contínua e ativa se faz necessária em nosso país, assim como o estabelecimento de tratamentos padronizados e feitos cooperativamente.

Childhood acute leukemias are a heterogeneous group of malignant hematologic diseases. Reviewing the descriptive and analytical epidemiology of them, it can be observed that besides clinical and laboratory factors, biological aspects, such as morphological subtypes, cytogenetic features, and molecular markers, interfere significantly on the survival of patients. In a general view, leukemia in infants has different epidemiological, biological, and clinical characteristics compared to older patients. The majority of cases present with high tumor load at diagnosis (high white blood cell count on peripheral blood, hepatosplenomegaly, and CNS involvement), with leukemic cells being phenotypically early B-cell precursor (CD34+, CD19+), lacking the CD10 antigen, while often expressing myeloid precursor antigens (CD15/CD65s) and increased myeloperoxidase expression. It is known that the combination of factors presented at diagnosis allows the identification of different risk groups, defining each patient prognosis and consequently determining the best therapeutic approach. Objectives: To analyze clinical and biological characteristics in infants (< 24 month year old) in order to identify clinical and biological prognostic factors, to prepare a prognostic score, and to estimate overall survival (OS) to the cohort. Patients and methods: Two hundred and forty-nine acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients were retrospectively analyzed according to their clinical and biological information. They were younger than 24 months and enrolled at the Divisão de Medicina Experimental, Centro de Pesquisa (MedEx, CPq) of Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, from January 1990 to December 2003. Results: The following characteristics were found: small predominance of females; 74% of Caucasian with median age of 14.1 months (57% younger than 14 months); among patients younger than 14 months, 57% were 6 to 14 months old and 26% were younger than 3 months old; 55% presented white blood count < 50x109/l, negative CD10; 50% common B immunophenotype and 42% early B immunophenotype according to the EGIL classification; MTHFRC677T or MTHFRT677T genotypes were more frequent than MTHFRC677C; MTHFRA1298A was more frequent than genotypes involving C allele and 81% of patients received treatment according to GBTLI protocols. Patients younger than 14 months old had statistically significant association with antigen CD10, EGIL early B-cell classification, and presence of MLL gene rearrangements. MLL rearrangements presented significantly association with negative CD10 and EGIL early B-cell classification; 93% of EGIL early B-cell classification patients presented negative CD10. The entire group presented 45% 5-year overall survival and the worst survival rates were observed in patients younger than 14 months, patients with white blood count > 100x109/l at diagnosis, negative CD10, those with EGIL early B-cell classification, and patients who were treated with a protocol different from GBTLI. When only patients younger than 14 months were analyzed, the OS was worse in those with white blood count > 100x109/l, negative CD10, patients with EGIL early B-cell classification, and those who presented with MTHFRT677T or MTHFRC677T genotype. For patients under 14 months, the prognostic score model identified the following characteristics as factors that can influence overall survival statistically significant: high white blood cells, negative CD10, pro-B EGIL immunophenotype and MTHFRC677T or MTHFRT677T genotype. Conclusions: Results have shown that on this cohort ALL originates from very immature cells and can predict an aggressive disease. It is imperative to continue studying its biological characteristics in our country as well as to establish standardized and co-operative treatments.

Linfoma de Burkit associado à obstrução de vias biliares / Biliary tract obstruction secundary to Burkitt lymphoma

Objetivo: Linforna não-Hodgkin (LNH) tipo Burkitt esporádico tem seu sítio primário em abdome, especialmente região ileocecal, apêndice e cólon. O envolvimento das vias biliares nesses pacientes é raro. Os autores relatam um paciente portador de LNH abdominal no qual a icterícia conseqüente à obstrução das vias biliares foi o sinal clínico inicial.Descrição: Menino de três anos e dois meses de idade, branco, com história de icterícia, acoliafecal, colúria e aumento do volume abdominal há um mês. Exame físico revelou icterícia 3+/4+, leve descoramento de mucosas, abdome pouco distendido, timpânico, com fígado palpável a 4,0 cm do rebordo costal direito. Exames laboratoriais revelaram bilirrubina total = 8,2 mg/dl (direta = 7,8 mg/dl) e anemia hipocrômica e microcítica. A ultra-sonografia (US) e a tomografia computadorizada (TC) de abdome mostraram duas lesões sólidas delimitadas em topografia hilar hepática, com dilatação de vias biliares intra-hepáticas. O estudo ultra-sonográfico com Doppler mostrou deslocamento da artéria hepática e da veia porta pela lesão.Comentários: A icteríciafreqüentemente acontece como manifestação tardia dos LNH, mas raramente como sinal clínico inicial. Nos casos em que a icterícia é primeira manifestação e os exames de imagem revelam obstrução de vias biliares e massa tumoral no hilo hepático, o LNH deve ser considerado no diagnóstico diferencial.