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Routine surveillance imaging after end of therapy for pediatric extracranial tumors: A retrospective analysis
Author(s) -
Lakkis Farah,
Alaiwi Sarah Abou,
Naffaa Lena,
Atweh Lamya,
Khoury Nabil,
Abboud Miguel,
Muwakkit Samar,
Tarek Nidale,
El Solh Hassan,
Saab Raya
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.26723
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , tertiary care , psychological intervention , pediatrics , radiology , surgery , psychiatry
Frequent surveillance imaging is routine practice for pediatric patients after cancer therapy. This retrospective study evaluated the follow‐up of 301 children with extracranial tumors diagnosed between 2002 and 2012, at a tertiary pediatric cancer center in Beirut, Lebanon. Recurrence occurred in 15% of patients, at a median of 12 months after end of primary therapy. Outcome was not different comparing patients with recurrence detected via imaging surveillance versus clinically. False positive findings in 55 patients led to further interventions. These results raise important questions regarding benefit of current surveillance practices as standard care, especially in countries with limited resources.