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Osteonecrosis in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Author(s) -
Murphy Ronald G.,
Greenberg Mark L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19900415)65:8<1717::aid-cncr2820650809>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoblastic leukemia , complication , dexamethasone , aseptic necrosis , surgery , avascular necrosis , acute lymphocytic leukemia , leukemia , methotrexate , chemotherapy , pediatrics , femoral head
The authors report five pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in whom symptomatic aseptic osteonecrosis developed on therapy. All patients had been on treatment with a modified BFM protocol and developed osteonecrosis in the maintenance phase of the protocol. The avascular necrosis was multifocal in all. The authors' data suggest that dexamethasone used in the reinduction phase of the protocol may be the responsible agent although no definite proof exists. Since only symptomatic patients are reported, the true frequency of this complication may be significantly higher.