Premium
Detection of recurrence in childhood solid tumors
Author(s) -
Howell Lisa,
Mensah Adjoa,
Brennan Bernadette,
Makin Guy
Publication year - 2005
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/cncr.20896
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , retrospective cohort study , childhood cancer , radiology , radiography , cancer , pediatric oncology , pediatrics , surgery
BACKGROUND Frequent follow‐up and regular investigation are routine in pediatric oncology. However, there is little evidence regarding their value in the detection of recurrent disease. METHODS The authors carried out a retrospective study of the follow‐up of 186 children with solid tumors who were diagnosed between 1992 and 1996. The numbers of clinic visits, follow‐up investigations, and (if appropriate) the mode of recurrence detection were recorded. RESULTS The mean follow‐up was 5.9 years. During this time, 37 recurrences were detected, symptomatically in 54% of patients, by routine investigation in 30% of patients, and at routine clinic appointment in 16% of patients. It was calculated that routine magnetic resonance imaging detected 1 recurrence for every 42 scans performed, routine computed tomography detected 1 recurrence for every 129 scans performed, and routine chest radiography detected 1 recurrence for every 257 films. CONCLUSIONS The current results raise questions regarding the usefulness of such follow‐up in children with solid tumors. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.