Malignancies in childhood

Genetic factor and environmental factors may be implicated ,for cause of childhood malignancies is obscure. If child have chromosomal anomalies have a higher incidence of associated malignancies. Identical twins have more chance of developing malignancies if one of them are affected. Particular families for unexplained reason at this time may be predisposed to developing cancer in more than one family member it is also called " family cancer syndrome."

Environmental factor which is 1 st step or predisposed to cancer include exposure to ultraviolet light which is skin cancer irradiation exposure, radiation related occupation of father, use of diethylstillbestrol in mothers.

1.Leukemia:
Leukemia is most common types of childhood malignancies. This disease occur more common in males than females and it consistent with increasing age. Symptoms are based on replacements of normal marrow precursors by leukemic cells. The common symptoms are fever petechiae, bleeding and decreased activity, bone pain. The duration of symptoms may vary from few days to few week or month. Differential diagnosis should include viral illness aplastic anemia, pertusis etc.
One method for diagnosis of leukemia is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consists of induction of remission and consolidation to attain disease control and maintenance treatment to avoid bone marrow.
Bone marrow aspiration is needed to ascertain for diagnosis of acute leukemia. Patients with high risk leukemia
one following bone marrow replace while undergoing treatment have chance for ultimate cure. Such patients should be considered for allogeneic bone marrow transplant. The recommended candidates of bone marrow transplant in acute leukemia at this time are very high risk leukemia.
The cure rate for these patients is about 30-50 percent and is best when carried out early. If transplant is done in late stage of leukemia the cure rate is low near about 20 percent.

2. Brain Tumor:
Brain tumor is most common form of malignancies. In children's solid tumor is seen. The brain tumor mostly find in children's with early school years. Most of children's of brain tumors are infratentoria. The presentation depends upon location, rapidity of growth and potential of tumors. Most common symptoms are headache, morning vomiting, sixth nerve palsy, rapidly enlarging head ,brain abscess.

Treatment of brain tumors include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.The radiation therapy is the mainstay of treatment but it use is limited by damage of normal brain and delayed effects such as hypothyroidism etc.

3.Bone tumors:

Bone tumors are more common in adolescent age group. It is usually found in second decade of life. In bone tumors the most common site is distal femur and proximal tibia. The most common symptoms is localized pain accompanied by swelling and warmth.
In medical terminology ewings sarcoma occurs primarily between 10 to 20 years of age. This occur in femur but frequently involves flat bone such as pelvis, ribs and sterum. Symptons are pain and swelling fever and malaise. Treatment recommended is high dose radiation therapy. After radiation therapy surgery is being utilized to remove tumor.