Mark Fh Brougham

Subfertility in children and young people treated for solid and haematological malignancies

Children treated for cancer may exhibit impaired fertility in later life. A number of chemotherapeutic agents have been identified as being gonadotoxic, and certain treatment regimens are particularly associated with subsequent infertility. Radiotherapy can also cause gonadal damage, most notably after direct testicular or pelvic irradiation or following total body irradiation. Because of the varied nature of the cytotoxic insult, it can be difficult to predict the likelihood of infertility in later life. Currently, cryopreservation of spermatozoa, oocytes or embryos is the only method of preserving fertility in patients receiving gonadotoxic therapy. This is only applicable to postpubertal patients and can be problematic in the adolescent age group. At present there is no provision for the prepubertal child, although there are a number of experimental methods being investigated. However, in addition to the many scientific and technical issues to be overcome before clinical application of such techniques, a number of ethical and legal issues must also be addressed to ensure a safe and realistic prospect for future fertility in these patients.

Effects of pediatric cancer and its treatment on nutritional status: a systematic review

CONTEXT Malnutrition in pediatric cancer is common worldwide, yet its prevalence and effects on clinical outcomes remain unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to evaluate primary research reporting the prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric cancer patients and to assess the effects of pediatric cancer and its treatment on nutritional status. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases of MEDLINE, CINHAL, and PubMed were searched (January 1990-February 2013). STUDY SELECTION Studies of patients aged <18 years who were diagnosed with and treated for cancer and for whom measurements of anthropometry were reported and included. The primary outcome was the prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition and overnutrition), expressed as body mass index (BMI), in children diagnosed with and treated for cancer. DATA EXTRACTION Evidence was appraised critically by employing the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool, and data was extracted from original articles. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 46 studies were included, most of which were considered to be of low quality on the basis of heterogeneity in both the criteria and the measurements used to define malnutrition. Undernutrition was identified by measuring BMI, weight loss, mid-upper arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness, while overnutrition was assessed using BMI. Overall, the prevalence of undernutrition ranged from 0% to 65% and overnutrition from 8% to 78%. Finally, undernutrition in pediatric cancer at diagnosis was associated with poor clinical outcomes in 6 of 9 studies. CONCLUSION The possibility of a high prevalence of malnutrition in childhood cancer, indicated by the studies reviewed, highlights the need for high-quality, population-based, longitudinal studies using standard criteria to identify malnutrition.

Delayed diffuse cerebellar swelling after resection of medulloblastoma: case report and review of literature

IntroductionDelayed diffuse cerebellar swelling is a rare life-threatening complication following medulloblastoma resection.PresentationWe present our experience of managing a 4-year-old who developed diffuse cerebellar swelling with upward herniation 41 days after resection of a large cell anaplastic medulloblastoma.ConclusionEmergency chemotherapy alone was sufficient in promoting regression of swelling and recovery from coma. Reports of similar cases are scant. Chemotherapy may be a critical component of treatment.

5-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration in paediatric cancer patients from Scotland: a prospective cohort study

Children with cancer are potentially at a high risk of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) inadequacy, and despite UK vitamin D supplementation guidelines their implementation remains inconsistent. Thus, we aimed to investigate 25(OH)D concentration and factors contributing to 25(OH)D inadequacy in paediatric cancer patients. A prospective cohort study of Scottish children aged 75 nmol/l). In all, eighty-two patients (median age 3·9, interquartile ranges (IQR) 1·9-8·8; 56 % males) and thirty-five controls (median age 6·2, IQR 4·8-9·1; 49 % males) were recruited. 25(OH)D inadequacy was highly prevalent in the controls (63 %; 22/35) and in the patients (64 %; 42/65) at both baseline and during treatment (33-50 %). Non-supplemented children had the highest prevalence of 25(OH)D inadequacy at every stage with 25(OH)D median ranging from 32·0 (IQR 21·0-46·5) to 45·0 (28·0-64·5) nmol/l. Older age at baseline (R -0·46; P<0·001), overnutrition (BMI≥85th centile) at 3 months (P=0·005; relative risk=3·1) and not being supplemented at 6 months (P=0·04; relative risk=4·3) may have contributed to lower plasma 25(OH)D. Paediatric cancer patients are not at a higher risk of 25(OH)D inadequacy than healthy children at diagnosis; however, prevalence of 25(OH)D inadequacy is still high and non-supplemented children have a higher risk. Appropriate monitoring and therapeutic supplementation should be implemented.