[Treatment of langerhans cell histiocytosis in children]. / Lijecenje histiocitoze langerhansovih stanica u djece.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease characterised by pathologic accumulation and proliferation of histiocytes, cells from the monocyte-macrophage system, in various tissues and organs. In this retrospective study we analyzed patients charts treated in the Department of pediatric hematology and oncology at the University Hospital Zagreb with the diagnosis of LCH. Twenty-two children were diagnosed between January 1st 1996 and December 31st 2010, and all were treated with chemotherapy. 19 patients survived (86%) and the remaining 3 (14%), all under the age of 2 with multisystem disease, died. At the time of diagnosis 12 children (55%) presented with single-system disease, the most common were bone lesions in 8 children (36%). All children were treated according to protocols LCH-I and LCH -III. Eight children had mild complications of treatment and the disease itself. Diabetes insipidus remains in 4 children.

CD20 positive childhood B-non Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL): morphology, immunophenotype and a novel treatment approach: a single center experience.

Lymphomas represent the third most common group of cancers in childhood and adolescence, mature B non Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) accounting for up to 60% of newly diagnosed patients. The diagnosis of specific entities of B-NHL is based on well-defined morphologic analysis, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics and molecular genetics, which determine the optimal treatment strategy. In adult population a major turning point in treatment of B-NHL has been achieved since rituximab, in combination with CHOP has improved the survival rate up to 19%. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets CD20, a transmembrane calcium channel expressed on normal and malignant B-cells that mediates cytotoxic, apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects. The effect of rituximab in pediatric population is still not well enough investigated. Based on morphology and immunophenotype of malignant cells, seven children with B-NHL in our institution were eligible for treatment with modified B-NHL-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM)-95-based protocol with rituximab administered on day -5. The complete remission was achieved in all seven patients. Six patients are still in complete remission at least 12 months after having finished chemotherapy and one patient relapsed two months after the last cycle and subsequently died. Major adverse effects observed during treatment were prolonged B-cell depletion and myelosuppression. Rituximab in combination with B-NHL-BFM-95 protocol was otherwise well tolerated and proved to be effective in children and adolescents with B-NHL. The number of our patients is too small and the follow-up of a larger group of patients will help in defining the role of rituximab in the treatment of childhood B-NHL.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma in a 19 month-old boy: a case report.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare type of T-cell lymphoma of CD3+CD8+ phenotype characterized by deep-seated skin nodules or plaques mimicking panniculitis, a result of neoplastic lymphocytes infiltrating the subcutaneous fatty tissue. We present a case of a 19-month year old boy with SPTCL diagnosed and successfully treated in our institution. Disease first presented with symptoms of high fever and painful erythematous nodule located below the umbilicus. Later on the infiltrates appeared on the face, legs, arms and the back of the body. As the most decisive in obtaining the diagnosis, skin biopsy showed atypical, small to medium-sized lymphatic cells infiltrating the deeper dermal layers as well as the subcutaneous adipous tissue surrounding the adipocytes. Immunohystochemical analysis showed neoplastic lymphocytes positive for CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD8, Tia-1, granzyme B and perforine, and negative for CD20, CD34, TDT and CD56. No infiltration of blood vessels or epidermis was evident. Specific T-cell lymphomas protocol (EURO-LB 02) was then initiated which resulted with rapid regression of all general and local symptoms. The treatment was completed according to schedule and the child is now, 24 months after the initiation of the treatment, in complete remission.

Recombinant activated factor VII controls chemotherapy-related hemorrhage in patients with solid intra-abdominal tumors: a report of three pediatric cases.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) is used predominantly for the treatment of bleeding in patients with hemophilia and inhibitors, and in patients with traumatic injury. There are also literature reports of its use in chemotherapy-related bleeding in leukemia patients and intra- or postoperative bleeding in patients with solid tumors. We describe three pediatric patients where rFVIIa was successfully used to manage bleeding following the failure of conventional hemostatic treatments during chemotherapy for intra-abdominal tumors (hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and non-classified malignant sarcoma). Recombinant FVIIa proved effective and maintained hemostasis in two of three cases, with no evidence for toxic or adverse events in any of the treated patients.