Second and subsequent tumours among 1927 retinoblastoma patients diagnosed in Britain 1951-2004

Background:

Retinoblastoma is an eye tumour of childhood that occurs in heritable and non-heritable forms. In the heritable form, there is a predisposition to the development of non-ocular subsequent primary tumours (SPTs).

Methods:

This study included 1927 retinoblastoma patients diagnosed in Britain from 1951 to 2004. Ascertainment was through the (UK) National Registry of Childhood Tumours; cases were followed-up for the occurrence of SPTs. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated.

Results:

We identified 169 SPTs in 152 patients. The SIR analysis included 145 SPTs with cancer registrations from the years 1971 to 2009. These tumours occurred in 132 patients: 112 of the 781 heritable and 20 of the 1075 (presumed) non-heritable cases under surveillance at the start of this period developed at least one registered SPT. The SIRs for all tumours combined were 13.7 (95% confidence interval 11.3–16.5) in heritable cases and 1.5 (0.9–2.3) in non-heritable cases. The main types of SPT in the heritable cases were leiomyosarcoma, (31 cases; SIR 1018.7 (692.2–1446.0)), osteosarcoma (26 cases; SIR 444.6 (290.4–651.4)), and skin melanoma (12 cases; SIR 18.6 (9.6–32.4)).

Conclusion:

The risk of SPTs in heritable retinoblastoma is extremely high. This has important implications for the clinical follow-up and counselling of survivors and their families.

Heritable retinoblastoma and accelerated aortic valve disease

Heritable retinoblastoma is associated with a germline mutation in the tumour suppressor gene RBI. The Rb protein (pRb) arises from the RB1 gene, which was the first demonstrated cancer susceptibility gene in humans. Second primary malignancies are recognised complications of retinoblastoma. Furthermore, pRb is implicated in valve remodelling in calcific aortic valve disease. We report a family with hereditary retinoblastoma and associated secondary primary malignancies. There are two interesting aspects to this family. The first is the concept of 'cancer susceptibility genes'; the RBI gene being the first reported in humans. A further feature of note is that two family members also have bicuspid aortic valves. We discuss a potential association between the gene defect responsible for retinoblastoma (with its associated propensity for further malignancies) and accelerated deterioration of the bicuspid aortic valve in the proband carrying this gene defect.

Non-ocular tumours following retinoblastoma in Great Britain 1951 to 2004

BACKGROUND

Retinoblastoma occurs in both a heritable and a non-heritable form. In the heritable form, there is a predisposition to the development of non-ocular tumours.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the types of non-ocular tumour occurring in retinoblastoma survivors and to produce estimates of risk for these tumours.

METHODS

We carried out a cohort study that included 1927 cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed in Great Britain between 1951 and 2004. Cases were ascertained through the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and followed up for the occurrence of non-ocular tumours using the routine notification system based on the National Health Service Central Registers in Britain.

RESULTS

Of the 1927 cases, 809 were known to have the heritable form of the disease and 1118 assumed to have the non-heritable form. 102 of the heritable and 13 of those classified as non-heritable developed a non-ocular tumour. The cumulative risk of developing such a tumour 50 years after retinoblastoma diagnosis was 48.3% (95% confidence interval: 38.1 to 59.7%) in the heritable and 4.9% (1.9 to 12.4%) in the non-heritable cases. The main categories of non-ocular tumours observed in the heritable cases were soft-tissue sarcomas (36 of which 21 were leiomyosarcoma), osteosarcoma (32), carcinoma (13), brain and central nervous system tumours (10), melanoma (9), leukaemia (4) and others (4). There were a total of 108 non-ocular tumours in 102 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high risk of non-ocular tumours occurring in survivors of heritable retinoblastoma. These results have important implications for the clinical follow-up and counselling of survivors.

Retinoblastoma in Great Britain 1963-2002

AIM

This paper describes the epidemiology and family history status of 1601 children with retinoblastoma in Great Britain diagnosed 1963-2002 and summarises the practical consequences for diagnosis and counselling of developments in molecular genetics.

METHODS

Incidence rates were analysed according to year of diagnosis and tumour laterality. Cases were classified as heritable or non-heritable on the basis of laterality and family history of the disease.

RESULTS

There were 998 unilateral cases, 581 bilateral and 22 of unknown laterality. Bilateral cases tended to be diagnosed at a younger age than unilateral. All bilateral cases are regarded as heritable, and 35% had a family history of the disease. 7% of the unilateral cases had a family history and are therefore heritable. Thus, at least (41%) of our cases are heritable. This is an underestimate, since these data on family history are incomplete. For unilateral cases aged below 1 year, the reported incidence rate increased significantly (p<0.0001) by about 2.5% per year; for the age group 1-4 years, the average increase was about 0.5% per year (not significant).

Retinoblastoma incidence and survival in European children (1978-1997). Report from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System project

Based on 2283 cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed in children aged 0-14 years, incidence and survival in Europe during the period 1978-1997 are described. Data were provided to the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System (ACCIS) from 60 paediatric and general cancer registries. During 1988-1997, the cumulative incidence of retinoblastoma in the ACCIS regions was found to be between 44.2 and 67.9 per million births. The highest incidence was seen in the first year of life. The age-standardised (World standard) incidence rate for the age-range 0-14 years was 4.1 per million. Approximately one-third of cases had bilateral tumours. Overall incidence increased over the period 1978-1997 by 1% per year, as derived from a model adjusted for sex, age group and type of registry (general or paediatric). The 5-year survival rate improved from 89% to 95% during the period covered by the study. This improvement was seen in both unilateral and bilateral cases but was significant only for the unilateral tumours. Survival was lower in the East region, although smaller differences were also observed between the other four regions (British Isles, North, South and West). Availability and quality of registration data on retinoblastoma need to be improved for effective evaluation of incidence and survival.

Vitreous relapse following primary chemotherapy for retinoblastoma: is adjuvant diode laser a risk factor?

AIMS

To evaluate rates of vitreous relapse among retinoblastoma patients treated with primary chemotherapy and assess diode laser as a potential risk factor for relapse.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients treated with primary chemotherapy at a large ocular oncology centre. Eyes that developed vitreous relapse were coded with regard to Reese-Ellsworth Group, laterality, time to relapse, type of relapse (vitreous base or non-vitreous base relapse), treatments used (including adjuvant diode laser), and ocular preservation. Individual tumour foci treated with laser hyperthermia were also coded for laser parameters including power settings, number of treatments, and concomitant administration of systemic chemotherapy (chemothermotherapy).

RESULTS

15 of 106 eyes (14.15%) developed vitreous relapse over a 6 year period. Mean time to relapse was 7.2 months after chemotherapy was completed. Five cases (33%) were of the vitreous base variety. Ocular salvage was attempted in 11 cases using a variety of methods; one patient was lost to follow up. Six of the remaining 10 eyes (60%) were salvaged. Eight of 38 eyes (21%) treated with systemic chemotherapy and laser hyperthermia developed vitreous relapse compared with seven of 68 eyes (10%) treated with primary chemotherapy alone (p<0.005). Laser settings, number of hyperthermia treatments, and the concomitant use of systemic chemotherapy (chemothermotherapy) were not associated with higher rates of vitreous relapse.

CONCLUSION

Nearly one in seven eyes with retinoblastoma treated with primary chemotherapy may develop vitreous relapse. The administration of diode laser hyperthermia appears to increase this risk. Despite additional therapy a number of these eyes succumb to enucleation.

Pineal parenchymal tumours: II. On the aggressive behaviour of pineoblastoma in patients with an inherited mutation of the RB1 gene

This report relates to a retrospective analysis of two non-randomised cohorts of patients with pineoblastoma, with some differences in presenting features and treatment characteristics. We have identified a large difference in survival depending on the possession or otherwise of the mutated RB (retinoblastoma) gene in the genome/karyotype. Eight children with familial retinoblastoma (non-metastatic at presentation) developed pineoblastoma and were treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The survival of these patients was compared with the survival of nine non-metastatic sporadic cases of pineoblastoma similarly staged and treated. One out of eight children having the RB mutation in the genome survived compared with seven out of nine in the group with sporadic pineoblastoma (P = 0.002). It is suggested that the inheritance of the mutated retinoblastoma gene is not only causal in the generation of this tumour type but, in a way that is yet to be defined, renders such tumours more aggressive or less responsive to therapy. With the current interest in the role of RB mutations in other cancers (where the prognostic import of single genes is less easily identified), this observation may have wider relevance.

The impact of PET scanning on management of paediatric oncology patients

PURPOSE

Limited information is available on the use of positron emission tomography (PET) in paediatric oncology. The aim of this study was to review the impact of PET on the management of paediatric patients scanned over a 10-year period.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-five consecutive oncology patients aged 11 months to 17 years were included. Two hundred and thirty-seven scans were performed. Diagnoses included lymphoma (60 patients), central nervous system (CNS) tumour (59), sarcoma (19), plexiform neurofibroma with suspected malignant change (13) and other tumours (14). A questionnaire was sent to the referring clinician to determine whether the PET scan had altered management and whether overall the PET scan was thought to be helpful.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-nine (80%) questionnaires for 126 patients were returned (63 relating to lymphoma, 62 to CNS tumours, 30 to sarcoma, 16 to plexiform neurofibroma and 18 to other tumours). PET changed disease management in 46 (24%) cases and was helpful in 141 (75%) cases. PET findings were verified by histology, clinical follow-up or other investigations in 141 cases (75%). The returned questionnaires indicated that PET had led to a management change in 20 (32%) lymphoma cases, nine (15%) CNS tumours, four (13%) sarcomas, nine (56%) plexiform neurofibromas and four (22%) cases of other tumours. PET was thought to be helpful in 47 (75%) lymphoma cases, 48 (77%) CNS tumours, 24 (80%) sarcomas, 11 (69%) neurofibromas and 11 (61%) cases of other tumours. PET findings were verified in 44 (70%) lymphoma cases, 53 (85%) CNS tumours, 21 (70%) sarcomas, 12 (75%) neurofibromas and 11 (61%) other tumour cases.

CONCLUSION

PET imaging of children with cancer is accurate and practical. PET alters management and is deemed helpful (with or without management change) in a significant number of patients, and the results are comparable with the figures published for the adult oncology population.

Globe conserving treatment of the only eye in bilateral retinoblastoma

AIMS

To quantify the rates of eye preservation and patient survival, local tumour relapse and recurrence, and development of new tumours in the remaining eye of children with bilateral retinoblastoma with one eye already enucleated. Also, in the same children, to describe the types of primary and secondary treatment procedures, and to define the anatomical outcome.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational case series report. The study participants consisted of 107 patients with bilateral retinoblastoma with one eye enucleated within 1 month of baseline examination and had their remaining eye treated conservatively. The main outcome measure were: primary treatment failures, new tumours, enucleation of the only eye, death, remission, and anatomical outcomes (retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage, and cataract).

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 8.4 (range 0.2-44, SD 10.1) months with a median ophthalmic follow up of 44.3 (8.1-114, SD 10.1) months. In 22 of the 107 patients (21%) the treated eye was in Reese Ellsworth groups I or II and in the remaining 85 (79%) in groups III-V at diagnosis. The primary treatment was cryotherapy in 14% (15/107) of eyes, radioactive plaque brachytherapy in 3.7% (4/107), and chemotherapy in 10% (11/107). It was lens sparing radiotherapy in 37% (40/107), whole eye radiotherapy in 29% (31/107), combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 2.8% (3/107), chemothermotherapy in 0.9% (1/107), and combined focal therapy in 1.8% (2/107). The primary treatment failed to achieve local tumour control during the follow up period in 37% (40/107) of eyes. In 17 eyes failure was due to inadequate control of the presenting tumour, in 16 to development of a new tumour, and in eight eyes to a combination of both. 35 (88%) of the 40 failures were managed by secondary conservative treatment and the remaining five were treated by enucleation of the only eye. There were eight (7.4%) deaths and the 3 year survival rate was 93% (100/108). Anatomical results included vitreous haemorrhage in four cases, tractional retinal detachment also in four cases, and 24 children required cataract surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive conservative treatment achieved a good rate of globe salvage without impairing survival.

High level amplification of N-MYC is not associated with adverse histology or outcome in primary retinoblastoma tumours

Twenty-five primary retinoblastoma tumours were analysed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine the genomic copy number of the N-MYC gene (2p24) relative to the copy number for REL, B2M, ALB, AF10 and MLL. Twenty-one of these tumours were shown by Comparative Genomic Hybridization to contain variable copy number increases of chromosomal material mapping to 2p. High level amplification (>30-fold) of N-MYC was found in three tumours, none of which showed adverse histological features and all patients are surviving at between 54 and 108 months post enucleation. Furthermore, the three tumours associated with metastasis and adverse patient outcome showed normal N-MYC copy number. Although high level amplification of N-MYC is an unfavourable prognostic indicator in neuroblastoma, these data show no evidence of a correlation between amplification of N-MYC and adverse outcome in retinoblastoma.

Imaging-guided core biopsy for the diagnosis of malignant tumors in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the ability of imaging-guided core biopsy to obtain sufficient tissue from pediatric tumors for a definitive diagnosis of malignancy on which treatment could be based.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-four biopsies (biopsies of the abdomen, 32; of the chest, 2) were performed on 34 children at presentation under CT or sonographic guidance using 14-, 18-, or both 14- and 18-gauge needles. A minimum of two tissue cores was obtained. Most biopsies were performed under general anesthesia, permitting other procedures to be performed. The biopsy results were confirmed by subsequent surgical pathology, bone marrow biopsy, biochemical or clinical features, and follow-up examination.

RESULTS

The needle biopsy diagnoses were nephroblastoma (n = 11), neuroblastoma (n = 7), renal cell carcinoma (n = 2), synovial sarcoma (n = 1), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2), clear cell sarcoma (n = 1), rhabdoid tumor (n = 1), pulmonary blastoma (n = 2), embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (n 1), germ cell tumor (n = 1), adrenal carcinoma (n = 1), inflammatory tissue (n = 2), desmoplastic tumor of the mesentery (n = 1), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n = 1). In 28 patients, the results were confirmed as correct (22 with surgery and 6 with follow-up examination). Four patients required additional biopsy. In two of these patients, the core biopsy showed inflammatory tissue only, and an open biopsy of a different site was performed; the other two patients did not respond to therapy on the basis of needle biopsy results, and an open biopsy altered the diagnosis. Two patients with widespread disease were excluded because they did not respond to treatment and were too ill to undergo an open biopsy. Only one significant complication was recorded.

CONCLUSION

Imaging-guided core biopsy is a safe and reliable means of obtaining sufficient tissue to make a confident histologic diagnosis of malignant pediatric tumors in a high percentage of patients.

Delay in diagnosis of retinoblastoma: risk factors and treatment outcome

BACKGROUND

Delay in diagnosis of retinoblastoma causes considerable parental distress; however, the primary healthcare professional (PHP) may have difficulty detecting the most common presenting symptom-leucocoria. Alternatively, the PHP may not appreciate that retinoblastoma is the pathology underlying more common ocular symptoms in infants and young children.

METHOD

The parents of 100 recently diagnosed patients with retinoblastoma were interviewed to establish the extent of diagnostic delay, ascertain any associated risk factors, and to determine whether or not delay influenced treatment outcome.

RESULTS

Although nearly 50% of patients were referred to an ophthalmologist within 1 week of first consulting a PHP, one quarter waited more than 8 weeks. There was a significantly increased risk of diagnostic delay in younger patients, those presenting with squint rather than leucocoria, and those first presenting to a health visitor rather than to a general practitioner. The risk of local tumour invasion was significantly increased by diagnostic delay. Treatment with primary enucleation was not increased by diagnostic delay. There were no deaths during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Primary healthcare professionals require education about the importance of ocular symptoms, especially squint, in paediatric patients.

Asymptomatic carotid arterial disease in young patients following neck radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence and severity of asymptomatic carotid arterial disease in young patients following neck radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma and to compare the prevalence of carotid arterial disease following radiation therapy alone with that following radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-two survivors of childhood or early adult Hodgkin lymphoma aged 18-37 years who had undergone radiation therapy more than 5 years earlier underwent carotid arterial ultrasonography. Common carotid intima-media thickness was measured; carotid vessels were assessed for intima-media abnormalities. Results were compared with those from 33 control subjects.

RESULTS

Patients had a significantly greater number of abnormal scans than did control subjects (11 [26%] vs one [3%]; P < .01). Ten patients (24%) had intima-media abnormalities that did not cause significant stenosis; one patient had diffuse bilateral intima-media thickening (mean, 1.99 mm) with greater than 70% stenosis of both common carotid arteries. Intima-media thickness was significantly greater in patients (0.51 mm) than in control subjects (0.43 mm; P < .005). The number of abnormalities in patients with radiation therapy plus chemotherapy (six [19%] of 31 patients) did not differ significantly from the number in patients with only radiation therapy (five [45%] of 11 patients; P = .12); there was no significant difference between median intima-media thicknesses (0.50 mm vs 0.51 mm, P > .2).

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic carotid arterial disease occurs frequently in young patients following neck radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. No difference in prevalence was shown between only radiation therapy and radiation therapy plus chemotherapy.

Thyroid nodular disease after radiotherapy to the neck for childhood Hodgkin's disease

Patients who receive radiotherapy to the neck are at risk of developing thyroid dysfunction. This prospective study of patients whose treatment for Hodgkin's disease in childhood included radiotherapy to the neck aimed to investigate the incidence and natural history of thyroid dysfunction and the morphological changes of the gland demonstrated on ultrasound. Forty-seven patients were investigated by clinical examination, thyroid function tests and thyroid ultrasound. Only six patients had a clinically detectable abnormality, but 64% had abnormal thyroid function tests. All patients had an abnormal thyroid ultrasound scan and 42% had at least one focal abnormality. A significant association was found between the presence of a focal lesion on ultrasound and young age at radiotherapy, longer follow-up and the length of time that the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level had been elevated. During follow-up, 65% of patients not on thyroxine developed new focal abnormalities. The longest time interval between radiotherapy and an increase in TSH level was 94 months, and from radiotherapy to the appearance of a focal abnormality on thyroid ultrasound was over 18 years. Three patients were found to have a thyroid carcinoma. These findings indicate the importance of long-term follow-up for patients treated by neck irradiation for Hodgkin's disease in childhood.

Growth hormone deficiency following radiotherapy for orbital and parameningeal sarcomas

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a recognized late effect of successful treatment of tumors requiring cranial irradiation. Growth after treatment was assessed in 16 patients with sarcomas of the orbital and parameningeal regions. Median age at diagnosis was 6.35 years and median follow-up was 7.2 years. Treatment consisted of combination chemotherapy and radical radiotherapy, conventionally fractionated with a median dose 4500 cGy; the hypothalamic/pituitary region received a median dose of 4163 cGy. Height was measured every 6 months and 13/16 patients underwent tests of GH function. At GH testing median height standard deviation score (SDS) was -0.7, a median decrease of -0.55 since tumor diagnosis. Seven patients were treated with human GH (hGH) at a median of 3.7 years from tumor diagnosis and followed for a median of 2.7 years. Treatment with hGH resulted in a median increase in height SDS of 0.9. Careful surveillance with timely introduction of GH replacement is required for treatment of GHD following treatment of orbital and parameningeal sarcomas.

A limited role for VEEP (vincristine, etoposide, epirubicin, prednisolone) chemotherapy in childhood Hodgkin's disease

The VEEP regimen (vincristine, etoposide, epirubicin, prednisolone), with or without involved field radiotherapy, has been shown to be an effective treatment in adult Hodgkin's disease. In an attempt to avoid the late sequelae of both alkylating agents and radiotherapy this regimen has been studied in a series of 54 children and young adults. Early analysis suggested that the relapse rate was higher with VEEP than with standard alkylating agent-based regimens. Sufficient follow-up has now been achieved to evaluate the likelihood of sustained remission following second-line treatment and therefore the overall long term survival with this treatment approach. The 5-year Overall Survival (OS) and 5-year Progression Free Survival (PFS) for patients with stage I-III disease was 93% and 82% respectively. However, the 5-year OS and PFS for stage IV patients was only 44% and 50%, respectively. Of 13 patients who were initial treatment failures on VEEP, 7 of whom had advanced disease, only 6 were salvaged with second-line therapy. 8 of 33 who attained a complete response (CR) relapsed and there were 2 relapses in those achieving a partial response (PR) (n = 8). All those relapsing from CR/PR were salvaged by second-line alkylating agent chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy, +/- high dose chemotherapy. In conclusion, patients with stage I-IIIA, non-bulky disease, the moderately high relapse rate did not adversely affect the overall high cure rate, although VEEP failures were subjected to a high total treatment burden. VEEP alone is inadequate in patients with stage IV disease, bulky mediastinal disease in/or those with B symptoms in whom there is a high primary failure rate and relatively poor results with second line therapy.

Ongoing assessment of nutritional status in children with malignant disease

The nutritional status of a child on cancer therapy influences both tolerance of and response to treatment. However, it is difficult to assess nutritional status on a daily basis because an accurate quantitation of the calorie intake is difficult. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters are prone to error and often reflect past rather than current nutritional status. In practice, a subjective clinical assessment is usually relied upon. This study objectively appraises the value of such an assessment. Based on clinical symptoms that alter oral intake and absorption of food, a scoring system was designed to assess nutritional status on a day to day basis. A symptom score (SS) of 10 implied "normality"; 0 indicated maximum debility. Over a 2-year period 511 daily scores were recorded in 30 patients aged 0.7-17.5 years. Patients were studied at presentation and during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 14; solid tumors receiving megatherapy with autologous bone marrow rescue (ABMR, n = 8), and chemotherapy for different tumors (miscellaneous, n = 8). The SS was compared with other nutritional parameters, including sequential anthropometric indices, serum albumin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and whole-body protein turnover (WBPT) using [1-(13) C]leucine. The mean SS was reduced at diagnosis for all leukemic patients (median score = 8), improved during first remission (p < 0.002), fell to a minimum during febrile neutropenia (p = 0.0009), and improved with clinical and hematological recovery (p = 0.0009). A reduction in SS was related to fever (p < 0.001) and a fall in neutrophil count (p < 0.001). There was no correlation with anthropometric indices or IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. Paired WBPT studies in 9 patients showed that SS correlated well with protein breakdown (p = 0.026). The results suggest that the ongoing nutritional status of children with malignancy undergoing chemotherapy is best assessed using simple clinical parameters.

Treatment of retinoblastoma vitreous base seeding

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to describe results of a new treatment for retinoblastoma vitreous base seeding.

DESIGN

The study design was a retrospective review of patients treated at an ocular oncology referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Five eyes of five patients with vitreous base seeding that occurred after previous external beam radiation therapy were treated between October 1987 and December 1994.

INTERVENTION

A customized plaque made from iridium-192/platinum wire was placed to deliver 4000 cGy to the tumor apex along its entire length and systemic chemotherapy (consisting of carboplatin, vincristine, and etoposide) was given.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Eye preservation and tumor control were measured.

RESULTS

Vitreous base seeding was controlled completely and the eye preserved in four of the five treated eyes with an average follow-up of 26.2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of a customized iridium-192 plaque and systemic chemotherapy is an effective means of treating vitreous base seeding of retinoblastoma.

The RB1 gene mutation in a child with ectopic intracranial retinoblastoma

The RB1 gene mutation was investigated in a child with ectopic intracranial retinoblastoma using DNA obtained from both the pineal and retinal tumours of the patient. A nonsense mutation in exon 17 (codon 556) of the RB1 gene was found to be present homozygously in both the retinal and the pineal tumours. The same mutation was present heterozygously in the DNA from the constitutional cells of the patient, proving it to be of germline origin. The initial mutation was shown to have occurred in the paternally derived RB1 allele. The mutation is in an area of the gene that encodes the protein-binding region known as the 'pocket' region and has been detected in other cases of retinoblastoma.

Clinical efficacy of perceived 'CNS friendly' chemoradiotherapy for primary intracranial germ cell tumours

The optimal treatment of intracranial germ cell tumours (IGCT) is controversial. The late sequelae of craniospinal radiotherapy and the high response rate to chemotherapy have led to new treatment strategies. The morbidity of combined modality therapy has tempered enthusiasm for aggressive chemoradiotherapy. In 1992, we described new lower morbidity chemotherapy and radiotherapy methods to be used in conjunction for IGCT treatment, employing three drugs (vincristine, carboplatin, etoposide) and a differential daily dose neuraxis radiotherapy technique (to replace a shrinking field technique). The chemoradiotherapy had the potential for a graded intensity reduction when high cure rates were maintained. Of 13 IGCT patients treated on this protocol, 8/8 germinomatous GCT and 3/5 non-germinomatous GCTs are in continuing remission. These observations have implications for other CNS tumour treatments in (young) patients, in whom late CNS toxicity (particularly neuropsychological) is a problem.

Results of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced intraocular retinoblastoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the visual anatomical results and survival after combined chemotherapy and whole eye radiotherapy for patients with bilateral Reese-Ellsworth group V retinoblastoma.

SETTING

A national referral center for retinoblastoma.

PATIENTS

Fourteen patients with bilateral Reese-Ellsworth group V retinoblastoma seen between March 1, 1989, and April 30, 1995, were treated.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were treated with chemotherapy (using carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine) and whole eye radiotherapy (40-44 Gy in 20-22 equivalent fractions). A medical record review was performed to determine outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Survival, eye preservation rate, and visual acuity.

RESULTS

Two patients died, 1 from a primitive neuroectodermal tumor and the other from the meningeal spread of retinoblastoma. Four eyes were enucleated primarily because of severe disease at presentation. Of the remaining 20 eyes, 6 required enucleation. The disease recurred in 4 of those patients, and neovascular glaucoma developed in 2 patients. Of the 12 surviving children, 5 have a visual acuity better than l/60 in at least 1 eye.

CONCLUSION

Although most of the treated group V eyes could be salvaged with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, the resultant visual acuity was often poor.

Combining cyclosporin with chemotherapy controls intraocular retinoblastoma without requiring radiation

Chemotherapy without radiation has not controlled most intraocular retinoblastoma, perhaps because of the common high expression of multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein that we found in retinoblastoma. Cyclosporin blocks P-glycoprotein-induced efflux of vincristine and teniposide in vitro, and possibly modulates responses to carboplatin. To avoid eye irradiation in bilateral retinoblastoma patients with RB1 germline mutations, which incurs a high second malignancy rate, we added cyclosporin A to a vincristine-teniposide-carboplatin protocol and consolidated chemotherapy responses with focal therapy. We scored patients requiring irradiation, enucleation, or focal ablation of central vision as failures. In 21 study patients, the overall relapse-free rate at a median follow-up of 3.3 years was 76%, with a rate of 92% for newly diagnosed and 50% for previously treated, relapsed retinoblastoma. Our results for the most unfavorable tumors with vitreous seeds (86% at 3.5 years) are better than published success rates of irradiation for similar tumors, or irradiation with the same chemotherapy without cyclosporin (45% at 2. 6 years). These results also exceeded our historic success rate with similar chemotherapy without cyclosporin, focal therapy, and/or radiation in 19 equivalently poor-risk patients (relapse-free rate 37% at a median follow-up of 5.6 years, P = 0.032), 16 of whom were previously untreated (relapse-free rate also 37%, P = 0.012). A better outcome occurred with higher cyclosporin blood levels and projected tissue exposure. Cyclosporin did not enhance the usual chemotoxicity. This clinical study suggests that cyclosporin improves the long-term response of retinoblastoma to chemotherapy, possibly by more than one mechanism.

Sonographic abnormalities of the thyroid gland following radiotherapy in survivors of childhood Hodgkin's disease

The aims of this study were as follows. (1) To demonstrate the spectrum, frequency and changes on follow-up of sonographic abnormalities in the thyroid gland of survivors of Hodgkin's disease who had received radiotherapy to the neck in childhood. (2) To compare the sonographic findings with clinical examination and radionuclide imaging. (3) To investigate the association between the presence or absence of focal sonographic abnormalities with age at radiotherapy, the interval from radiotherapy, the presence of a raised thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and the length of time the TSH had been raised. 46 patients were scanned prospectively and rescanned at 6-18 months. The mean age at first sonography was 22.7 years, the median age at radiotherapy was 12.5 years, and the median interval post-radiation was 10.3 years. Sonographic abnormalities were seen in all 46 patients. 45 had diffuse atrophy and 30 had focal sonographic abnormalities. 18 patients developed new focal sonographic abnormalities on follow-up. Focal sonographic abnormalities were more commonly associated with longer duration of a raised TSH. Two patients had thyroid carcinoma. Sonographic abnormalities of the thyroid are common in patients following neck radiotherapy in childhood. Focal abnormalities are usually associated with a longer duration of raised TSH.

Central venous catheter tip position and malfunction in a paediatric oncology unit

An audit of 151 central venous catheters (CVCs) in 118 children with malignant disease was carried out over 20 months. The types included 31 valved silastic (Groshong), 58 non-valved silastic (Hickman), and 62 non-valved polyurethane (Cuff Cath) CVCs. There was no difference between the three groups with regard to the clinical diagnosis. The mean patient age at catheter insertion was 5.5 years and the mean weight 21.6 kg. None of the catheter types were associated with an increased risk of problems at insertion, migration, mechanical damage, blockage, sampling, or catheter infection. The incidence of catheter infection was 1.4/1,000 catheter days. Exit-site infection was less frequent with Groshong CVCs (P <0.05), which were in situ for the shortest period. The risk of problems with blood sampling was significantly increased in those catheters whose tip was sited outside the right atrium (P <0.005). For the 60 CVCs removed electively, the mean duration in situ was similar for all catheter types; 43 were removed following a problem. Of these, Groshong catheters were in situ for the shortest period (P = 0.05), probably as a result of delayed anchoring of the cuff. The tip position was the single most important determinant in the correct functioning of CVCs, irrespective of the type of catheter. Intraoperative screening of the tip position at catheter insertion is therefore mandatory for optimal catheter functioning.

Retinoblastoma in association with the chromosome breakage syndromes Fanconi's anaemia and Bloom's syndrome: clinical and cytogenetic findings

Two children presenting with sporadic unilateral retinoblastoma and exhibiting a high degree of chromosome breakage were noted to have unusual facies, microcephaly and abnormal skin pigmentation. In the first child the pattern of both spontaneous and mitomycin-C-induced chromosome breakage was characteristic of Fanconi's anaemia although the degree of breakage was extreme. She also exhibited a striking increase in X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in G0 lymphocytes as measured by dicentric formation and increase in chromatid-type aberrations. She had a number of typical clinical features, including cafe-au-lait patches and abnormalities involving the kidney; however, she demonstrated neither the hypoplasia of radius and thumb nor the typical aplastic phase of this disorder. At age 22 months the child became anaemic with trilineage myelodysplasia, which was rapidly followed by the development of acute myeloblastic leukaemia. The early onset (at age 4 months) of retinoblastoma may have been associated with the underlying genomic instability. The second child exhibited a pattern of chromosome breakage characteristic of Bloom's syndrome, in addition to a moderate increase in damage induced by mytomycin-C. She had the typical stunted growth and malar hypoplasia of Bloom's syndrome although she did not demonstrate the frequently described erythematous 'butterfly rash' Although patients with Fanconi's anaemia and Bloom's syndrome are recognised to be at an increased risk of cancer, retinoblastoma has not previously been described in patients with either condition. We suggest that underlying recessive chromosome breakage syndromes may be underdiagnosed in paediatric cancer patients, with important implications for prognosis and genetic counselling.

External beam radiotherapy for retinoblastoma: II. Lens sparing technique

A retrospective analysis is presented of the results of external beam radiotherapy for retinoblastoma utilising an accurate lens sparing technique. Local tumour control has been assessed in a consecutive series of 67 eyes in 53 children all of whom received external beam radiotherapy as the primary treatment of retinoblastoma. Follow up ranged from 12 to 82 months (median 35 months) with 76% of the children followed for more than 2 years. Tumour control rates have been analysed with respect to the Reese-Ellsworth classification. The role of adjuvant and salvage focal therapy is emphasised. Following lens sparing radiotherapy with prior adjuvant treatment of anterior tumours, where appropriate, the overall ocular cure rate was 72%. With salvage therapy of persistent, recurrent, or new tumours, 93% of eyes could be preserved in this series which includes mainly eyes classified in Reese-Ellsworth groups I-III. These results compare favourably with those of whole eye external beam radiotherapy for comparable tumours, and with those of lens and anterior segment sparing using other techniques. They were achieved without the ocular morbidity associated with whole eye external beam radiotherapy.

External beam radiotherapy for retinoblastoma: I. Whole eye technique

A retrospective analysis has been performed of the results of external beam radiotherapy for retinoblastoma using a whole eye technique. Local tumour control has been assessed in a consecutive series of 175 eyes in 142 children all of whom received external beam radiotherapy as the primary treatment for retinoblastoma. Follow up ranged from 2 to 17 years (median 9 years). Tumour control rates have been analysed with respect to the Reese Ellsworth classification and the series includes eyes in groups I to V. Focal salvage therapy was given for persistent, recurrent, or new tumours after radiotherapy. Following whole eye radiotherapy alone, the overall ocular cure rate was 57%, though with salvage therapy 80% of eyes could be preserved.

Quality of life in survivors of childhood cancer after megatherapy with autologous bone marrow rescue

A questionnaire study was carried out in a group of survivors of childhood cancer to assess their quality of life. The questionnaire was sent to 30 survivors who had completed treatment with megatherapy followed by autologous bone marrow rescue at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Of the 28 respondents (93%), in 27 (96%) the quality of life was judged to be good, with 11 of these 27 (40%) having no disability whatsoever and a further 9 (33%) reporting only minimal disability. The other 7 patients had moderate to severe disabilities, with pain and depression remaining ongoing problems, and some adolescents felt that they were unable to cope with everyday life alongside their peers. Nine parents and 14 of the children themselves expressed anxiety about the previous illness. The study shows that, by using a postal method, a satisfactory assessment of quality of life in survivors of childhood cancer can be made.

Myoelectric prostheses in the management of Poland's syndrome. A report of 2 cases

Two cases of Poland's syndrome are reported in whom myoelectric prostheses have been used. The rare congenital sporadic disorder of Poland's syndrome characterized by absence of pectoralis major and varying degrees of ipsilateral upper limb deficiency has been reported by various authors (Rasjad and Sutiaksa, 1991, Gausewitz et al, 1984; David, 1982; Ireland et al, 1976). Management of the upper limb deficiency depends on the degree of functional and cosmetic disability. We report two cases of Poland's syndrome where myoelectric prostheses have been successfully used. We have been unable to find any published report of the use of a myoelectric prosthesis in Poland's syndrome.

High incidence of hypertension in children presenting with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Although hypertension is a complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), its true incidence in this disease is unknown. In this study the blood pressure profiles in all children newly diagnosed with ALL were reviewed over an 18-month period. Fourteen (46%) from a total of 30 patients were found to be hypertensive at presentation (n = 8) or during induction chemotherapy (n = 6). A patient with significant hypertension developed generalized convulsions; the rest were asymptomatic. Six patients were managed with antihypertensive drugs. Four patients with hypertension had renal enlargement on the initial ultrasound scan, which returned to normal when hematologic remission was achieved. One patient without hypertension had bilateral renal enlargement, but this persisted despite achieving remission. All patients with hypertension were normotensive at follow-up 2 to 18 months after induction chemotherapy. The presence of hypertension before therapy and its association with renal enlargement suggest that the leukemic process is an important etiologic factor. In all cases therapy aggravated or unmasked the elevation in blood pressure. Considering the high incidence of susceptible patients, increased awareness and prompt management may avoid possible life-threatening complications.

Same problems, different system? A UK perspective of infection control in an American hospital

1. Infection control practitioners are at the forefront of enforcement of infection control procedures in the US. 2. HIV infection is cited as the single most prominent cause of increases in cases of TB in most US health departments. 3. Attention to record keeping is an area in which infection control practitioners in the UK would be well advised to emulate their US colleagues.

The radiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood: a review of 80 cases

The clinical spectrum of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is different from that in adults, with frequent extranodal involvement. CT scanning as part of routine staging appears to show more frequent sites of extranodal disease than were previously recognized. We have reviewed the CT and other radiological findings in 80 children with NHL to document the incidence and radiological appearance of visceral involvement, to compare this with the pattern of adult disease, and to assess how frequently clinical stage of disease was altered by radiological findings. The age of the children ranged from 9 months to 17 years 4 months (mean 9 years 2 months). The presenting site was in the abdomen in 21 (27%), extranodal sites in the head and neck in 18 (23%), mediastinum in 16 (20%), peripheral lymph nodes in 15 (19%), pelvic organs in four, skin in four, and bone in two. Fifteen children had gastrointestinal lymphoma, the majority involving the ileocaecal junction. The kidneys were involved in 10 children, the pancreas in three; no child with renal or pancreatic involvement had associated retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement. Eight children had bone involvement and only two of the 80 children had pulmonary nodules at presentation. In this series, of the 44 children who had CT of the chest and abdomen, only five had stage of disease increased as a result, three with the primary disease in peripheral lymph nodes, and two with the primary disease in extranodal sites in the head and neck.

Late deaths and survival after childhood cancer: implications for cure

OBJECTIVES

To investigate causes of death and survival in subjects who had survived at least five years after diagnosis of childhood cancer; to compare observed mortality with that expected in the general population; and to compare results with a corresponding cohort diagnosed earlier.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Population based National Register of Childhood Tumours.

SUBJECTS

9080 five year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed in Britain during 1971-85, of whom 793 had died. Comparison with corresponding cohort diagnosed during 1940-70.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cause of death established from all available sources of information (including hospital and general practitioner records and postmortem reports) and underlying cause of death coded on death certificate.

RESULTS

Of the 781 deaths for which sufficient information was available, death was attributed to recurrent tumour in 578 (74%) cases, treatment related effect in 121 (15%), second primary tumour in 52 (7%), and other causes in 30 (4%). Comparison of observed mortality with that expected in the general population indicated a fourfold excess of deaths from non-neoplastic causes. The risk of dying of recurrent tumour in the next 10 years after surviving five years from diagnosis during 1940-70 and 1971-85 fell from 12% to 8%. The risk of dying from a treatment related effect increased slightly from 1% to 2%.

CONCLUSION

Improvements in five year survival after childhood cancer have been accompanied by a reduction in risk of dying from recurrent tumour during the subsequent 10 years and by a slight increase in risk of dying from treatment related effects. The results provide information relevant to decisions concerning balance between effective treatments and their potentially harmful effects.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Klinefelter syndrome

Patients with a 47, XXY karyotype (Klinefelter syndrome) appear to have an increased risk of developing a malignancy in adulthood, usually cancer of the breast, extragonadal germ cell tumor, and acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. There is growing evidence to show that these patients also have an increased risk of developing a malignancy in childhood. There are reports describing the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, retinoblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma in children with a 47, XXY or mosaic 47, XXY/46, XY karyotype. We report a child with a bone metastasizing, B-cell lineage, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who was found to have a 47, XXY karyotype in both the tumor and constitutional cells.

Monosomy 7, diabetes insipidus and acute myeloid leukemia in childhood

The triad of diabetes insipidus (DI), monosomy 7, and acute myeloid leukemia in a 7-year-old boy is described. This triad has been described in adults but not in children. The DI ran a transient, self-limiting course and required no specific therapy. The pathogenesis of DI remains unknown, and its transient nature may result in this component of the triad going unnoticed.

Testicular function following the treatment of Hodgkin's disease in childhood

Testicular function was studied in 40 males treated in childhood for Hodgkin's disease at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and the Hospital for Sick Children, London, between 1971-1985. All patients were 16 years or over at evaluation, and off treatment more than 6 years. Basal FSH, LH and testosterone levels were measured. Testicular size was measured using a Prader orchidometer, and all patients were offered a seminal analysis. Twenty-eight patients were treated with chemotherapy, usually ChlVPP. Twenty-one also had radiotherapy, five below the diaphragm. Twelve patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (five below the diaphragm). Twenty-six of 28 patients treated with chemotherapy and three of five patients treated with radiotherapy alone below the diaphragm have elevated basal FSH levels, and 18 of these also have elevated basal LH levels. Median testicular volume is 11 ml (range 5-25 ml). Eleven of 13 patients investigated are azoospermic. All patients have normal testosterone levels, and normal secondary sexual characteristics. There is no biochemical evidence of healing of the damaged germinal epithelium with elevated FSH levels persisting up to 17 years from the end of therapy. These results indicate a high incidence of damage to the germinal epithelium in patients treated with ChlVPP chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy below the diaphragm. Appropriate counselling of these patients with regard to their reproductive capabilities is essential.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease arising in children

Nonisotopic in situ hybridization has been used to investigate the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the aetiology of pediatric Hodgkin's disease. Sections from 24 cases arising in children under the age of 15 years were hybridised with digoxigenin-labelled probes for both EBV and cytomegalovirus, and reactive sites were identified by a sensitive three-layer immunoperoxidase technique. EBV was identified in Reed-Sternberg and mononuclear Hodgkin's cells in five samples (21%). No samples were positive when the cytomegalovirus probe was employed. The specific identification of EBV in the malignant cells of Hodgkin's disease arising in children lends further support for a role of EBV in the aetiology of this disorder.

Relationship of regression pattern to recurrence in retinoblastoma

A retrospective analysis has been conducted of regression patterns following treatment of retinoblastoma by external beam irradiation. There were 180 tumours in 105 eyes of 83 patients. Type I regression was found to be the commonest pattern and occurred in 50% of cases. Initial tumour size was found to be the only statistically significant determinant of regression pattern (p < 0.01). Thirteen tumours (7%) recurred within a median interval to recurrence of 12 months. All recurrences occurred within 40 months of completion of treatment and none occurred after age 4 years. No tumour less than 6 mm in diameter recurred. Although 10 out of 13 recurrences were of Type I, Cox model regression analysis showed initial tumour size to be the only independent predictor of recurrence (p < 0.01).

Late follow-up of lung function after whole lung irradiation for Wilms' tumour

Radiotherapy is known to have acute and long term deleterious effects on lung tissue. However, pulmonary irradiation is an established treatment in advanced childhood tumours with pulmonary metastases not responsive to chemotherapy. In this study eight patients with Wilms' tumours and lung metastases treated with whole lung irradiation (1200-1837 cGy) and chemotherapy were reassessed clinically, radiologically and with lung function tests 6-26 years after radiotherapy. One patient was breathless after mild exertion, four after strenuous exercise and three were asymptomatic. Clinically all had small chests and four of five females had underdeveloped breasts. A chest radiograph showed clear lung fields in all cases. Lung volumes, especially total lung capacity (TLC) and vital capacity (VC), were decreased when compared with predicted values for age and height. However, gas transfer per unit lung volume (KCO) was normal. This study suggests that pulmonary irradiation in childhood results primarily in underdevelopment of the thorax and that diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis is not a significant feature at this dose level.

Outcome of children with resistant and relapsed Hodgkin's disease

During the period 1974-89, 169 children with Hodgkin's disease were treated in the Paediatric Oncology Units of the Royal Marsden and St Bartholomew's Hospitals. The overall actuarial survival for the whole group was 81% at 10 years. Thirty-five of the 169 children either did not achieve a complete remission or subsequently relapsed. The estimated actuarial survival from initial relapse or failure of primary treatment was 60% at 5 years and 45% at 10 years. Over half of the patients requiring salvage therapy had declared themselves within 2 years and only 3 relapses occurred more than 3 years from diagnosis. Very few patients remain disease free long term after failure of primary and initial salvage therapy. Patients relapsing within a year of diagnosis or not achieving a complete response to primary therapy and those with disseminated relapse had a poor response to salvage therapy. A significant subgroup of patients had prolonged survival despite multiple relapses. Neither initial histology nor stage affected survival from relapse although numbers in each subgroup were small.