Evaluation of pediatric patients with an oncologic emergency: Single center experience

Özet

In this study, we aimed to prospectively analyze the emergency diagnosisand clinical characteristics of the oncologic emergency patients admitted, aswell as to evaluate the approach considerations to the cases, their treatment,patient outcomes and the prognostic factors.A total of 88 oncologic emergency patients (90 oncologic emergencyhospitalizations), except for febrile neutropenia, were admitted to the pediatriconcology department between July 2014 and December 2015.A total of 30 cases of tumor lysis syndrome, 19 hyperleukocytosis, 11 convulsion,7 spinal cord compression, 7 hemorrhagic cystitis, 9 pleural effusion, 6 venacava superior syndrome, 4 typhlitis, 3 anuria, 4 gastrointestinal bleeding,3 hypercalcemia, 4 acute respiratory distress syndrome, 2 acute massivehepatomegaly and 1 increased intracranial pressure were identified. Sixty-five(72.2%) of the study patients had a primary oncologic disease, whereas 25(27.8%) had a recurring condition. The most common presenting complaintwas fever (23.3%) followed by breathing difficulties (22.2%). Fifty-nine patients(65.6%) recovered and were discharged home, while 31 cases (34.4%) died.Tumor lysis syndrome was the most frequently encountered emergencycondition in the pediatric oncology patient group. Oncologic emergenciesneed to be approached quickly and systematically in the light of currentscientific knowledge.