Allergies,atopy, immune‐related factors and childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the children's oncology group

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly malignant tumor of developing muscle that can occur anywhere in the body. Due to its rarity, relatively little is known about the epidemiology of RMS. Atopic disease is hypothesized to be protective against several malignancies; however, to our knowledge, there have been no assessments of atopy and childhood RMS. Therefore, we explored this association in a case‐control study of 322 childhood RMS cases and 322 pair‐matched controls. Cases were enrolled in a trial run by the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group. Controls were matched to cases on race, sex and age. The following atopic conditions were assessed: allergies, asthma, eczema and hives; in addition, we examined other immune‐related factors: birth order, day‐care attendance and breastfeeding. Conditional logistic‐regression models were used to calculate an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each exposure, adjusted for age, race, sex, household income and parental education. As the two most common histologic types of RMS are embryonal (n = 215) and alveolar (n = 66), we evaluated effect heterogeneity of these exposures. Allergies (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41–0.87), hives (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38–0.97), day‐care attendance (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32–0.71) and breastfeeding for ≥ 12 months (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18–0.70) were inversely associated with childhood RMS. These exposures did not display significant effect heterogeneity between histologic types (p > 0.52 for all exposures). This is the first study indicating that atopic exposures may be protective against childhood RMS, suggesting additional studies are needed to evaluate the immune system's role in the development of this tumor.     

Solid tumors in Turkish children: a multicenter study

Background

This paper presents a detailed incidence study on childhood solid tumors comprising a histopathology-based documentation of benign and malignant lesions.

Methods

The Ankara Pediatric Pathology Working Group collected databases of pediatric solid tumors from six pediatric reference centers in order to analyze the incidence, distribution and some epidemiologic characteristics of the tumors and to establish a multicenter database for further studies. A five-year retrospective archive search was carried out. Excluding epithelial tumors of the skin, leukemia, lymphoreticular system neoplasias, metastatic tumors, and hamartomas, 1362 solid tumors in 1358 patients were classified according to age, sex, localization, histopathology and clinical behavior.

Results

The male/female ratio was 0.9; 14.8% (201) of the patients belonged to 0-1 year age group, 20.7% (281) to 2–4 years, 25.9% (352) to 5–10 years, 22.2% (301) to 11–14 years, and 16.4% (223) to 15-18 years. Among all tumors, 708 (52.0%) were malignant, 645 (47.4%) benign tumors, 2 (0.1%) borderline tumors, and 2 (0.1%) unknown behavioral tumors. Malignant tumors were found in 50.2% (357) of female patients and in 54.0% (349) of male patients. A balanced distribution between benign and malignant entities among children under 18 years was observed. Comparison between the age groups revealed malignant cases outnumbered benign cases under 4 years of age while benign tumor numbers increased after 10 years of age. The most common entities in the malignant group were of sympathetic nervous system origin, while soft tissue tumors far outnumbered the others in the benign group.

Conclusions

We conclude that the cancer patterns of children in the Ankara region mostly resemble with those of the western population. This study provides useful information on the diagnosis of solid tumors in children and highlights variations in cancer incidence in different age groups.     

Maternal and birth characteristics and childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group

Purpose

Previous assessments of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma have indicated maternal and birth characteristics may be associated with tumor development; however, much work remains to identify novel and confirm suspected risk factors. Our objective was to evaluate the associations between maternal and birth characteristics and childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.

Methods

This case–control study included 322 cases and 322 pair-matched controls. Cases were enrolled in a trial run by the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group. Population-based controls were identified using random digit dialing and were individually matched to cases on race, sex, and age. Families of the case and control subjects participated in a telephone interview, which captured information on maternal characteristics (birth control use, number of prenatal visits, anemia, and abnormal bleeding during pregnancy) and birth characteristics [birth weight, preterm birth, and type of delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean)]. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate an odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for each exposure, adjusted for age, race, sex, household income, and parental education. As the two most common histologic types of rhabdomyosarcoma are embryonal (n = 215) and alveolar (n = 66), we evaluated effect heterogeneity of these exposures.

Results

The only characteristic that was associated with childhood rhabdomyosarcoma, and statistically significant, was abnormal vaginal bleeding during pregnancy (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.12–2.74). Birth control use (OR 1.45, 95 % CI 0.96–2.18), anemia during pregnancy (OR 1.27, 95 % CI 0.81–1.99), and preterm birth (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 0.74–8.49) were positively associated with childhood rhabdomyosarcoma, but were not statistically significant. Low birth weight [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 4.46, 95 % CI 1.41–14.1] and high birth weight (aOR 2.41, 95 % CI 1.09–5.35) were strongly associated with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. However, these factors did not display significant effect heterogeneity between histologic types (p > 0.15 for all characteristics).

Conclusions

Overall, we found little evidence that these maternal and birth characteristics are strongly associated with childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.     

Barrier membrane and bone graft treatments of dehiscence-type defect at existing implant: a case report

Dehiscence-type bony defects may occur after implant application because of microbial action as well as of biomechanical and occlusal overload. The aim of the treatment of a periimplant defect is to arrest the progression of the bone loss and to achieve a maintainable site for the implant. In these situations, barrier membranes and bone graft materials can be used to achieve complete bone healing around dental implants. Bone regeneration is possible in a periimplant bony defect of a functioning implant if the proper surgical technique is utilized and the etiologic cause is eradicated. This study presents the surgical coverage of a periimplant bony defect around an implant that was inserted 7 years ago. The surgical correction was made using a barrier membrane in conjunction with bone graft materials. A follow-up of 6 months seemed to reveal radiographic bone regeneration.     

Synovial sarcoma in children and adolescents: thirty three years of experience with multimodal therapy

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is the most common type of non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma in childhood, with controversies about its prognosis and treatment. PROCEDURE: We reviewed medical records of 42 children and adolescents with SS treated at our institution between 1966 and 1999 to determine treatment results and assess prognostic factors. RESULTS: With a median follow-up duration of 7.8 years (range 0.2-22.4 years), 5-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 75.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 62-89.2%) and 87.7% (95% CI 77.3-98.1%) respectively. Eleven patients were dead and four others had progressed but were alive without evidence of disease after further therapy. IRS grouping and tumor invasiveness were found to be significant prognostic indicators (P < 0.01 and = 0.02, respectively). Patients with initial gross total resection (IRS I and II) and non-invasive tumors (T1) were most likely to have prolonged PFS and OS. Patients with small tumors (< 5 cm) (P = 0.09) or with monophasic histology (P = 0.14) had better PFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving a complete resection or gross total resection with microscopic residual disease is vital for survival of patients with localized SS. Patients with localized disease who received radiotherapy had improved local control. Chemotherapy did not seem to impact PFS or OS. Future large multi-institutional trials are needed to address whether post-operative chemotherapy is necessary for patients with localized, surgically removed tumors, whether radiotherapy is necessary for patients with completely resected tumors, and to ascertain the order of importance of all the candidate prognostic markers. Med Pediatr Oncol 2001;37:90-96.     

Treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis with temporalis superficial fascia flap

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is characterized by the formation of bony or fibrous mass, which replaces the normal articulation and limitation of mouth opening. This study aims to determine the efficacy of arthroplasty and interpositional fascia flap in the treatment of unilateral and bilateral TMJ ankylosis in three young adult men. Our operative protocol for unilateral and bilateral TMJ ankylosis entailed resection of ankylotic mass, intraoral ipsilateral and bilateral arthroplasty, interpositional tissue transfer to the TMJ with temporalis superficial fascia flap, maxillomandibular fixation, and early mobilization and aggressive physiotherapy. Early postoperative initial exercise, physiotherapy, and strict follow-up play an important role in preventing postoperative adhesions. The temporalis superficial facia flap is an autogenous graft that has the advantages of close proximity to the TMJ minimal surgical morbidity, and successful clinical results. It was found to be a valuable option for TMJ ankylosis reconstruction.     

Is it possible to decrease skin temperature with ice packs under casts and bandages?

INTRODUCTION: There is a general belief that the presence of a cast or a bandage eliminates the lowering effects of skin temperature when local cold therapy applied on the surface of the cast or bandage. The purpose of this study is to determine the magnitude of temperature changes at the skin of the ankle after the application of frozen ice packs to the surface of various casts and bandages both in normal and swollen ankles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two healthy subjects (Group A) and 12 patients with Grade III inversion type acute ankle sprain (Group B) were randomly divided into four groups. The sensor of the digital thermometer was secured to the ankle over the anterior talo-fibular ligament in every subject before placement of a bandage or cast. Robert Jones bandage, elastic support bandage, a below-knee plaster cast and synthetic below-knee cast were applied in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Two frozen ice packs were placed around the cast or bandage at the level of sensor, and skin temperatures were recorded. RESULTS: The skin temperature under dressings and casts decreased significantly relative to the baseline temperatures with local cold therapy in all groups. The fall in the temperature with cryotherapy in group A showed a three-phase pattern of change between groups 1 and 2, groups 2 and 3 and groups 2 and 4 during the experiment. The fall in the skin temperature with ice packs differed significantly between groups 1 and 3, and also groups 1 and 4 from the beginning till the end of the experiment. There was no significant difference between groups 3 and 4 in terms of skin temperature fall with cryotherapy during the whole experiment. The results were similar in group B. CONCLUSION: A bandage or cast does not prevent measurable skin temperature lowering by frozen ice packs both in normal and swollen ankles.     

Ganglion cysts of the proximal tibiofibular joint review of literature with three case reports

Proximal tibiofibular ganglion is a rare disorder. It may settle down in the subcutaneous tissue or may develop along the peroneal muscles and nerve. Common clinical findings are various sizes of mass, pain and hypoesthesis due to compression neuropathy. We report three cases of proximal tibiofibular ganglion and review the literature about the diagnostic tools, recurrence rates and treatment modalities.     

Flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect residual neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow

BACKGROUND: In patients with neuroblastoma morphological assessment of BM for residual NB cells is not precise, particularly when the number of tumor cells is small. PROCEDURE: To develop a sensitive and rapid method of detecting NB cells in BM, we assessed the efficiency of flow cytometry (FCM) using markers CD9, CD56, and CD45. The percent of CD9+/CD56+/CD45- (NB phenotype) cells was determined by FCM in 41 samples (16 patients) at various time points. For confirmation fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for 17q gain was performed. RESULTS: Nineteen of the 22 (86%) samples that were negative by morphology were positive by FCM (>0.006% CD9+/CD56+/CD45- cells). The longest time to complete the FCM study was 3 hr. In six FISH experiments the sorted CD9+/CD56+/CD45- population had a higher percentage of cells with 17q gain (11.5-95%) compared to a CD56-/CD45+ internal control population (2-8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that FCM determination of the percent of CD9+/CD56+/CD45- cells is an effective method of rapidly detecting NB cells in BM.