Azimi C, Aghamohammadi A, Ramyar A, Safari Z, Divsalar K, Mahmoodi M,
Volume 70, Issue 9 (12-2012)
Abstract
Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in childhood, characterized by excess lymphoblasts, and immature white blood cells that are continuously multiplying and overproducing in the bone marrow. The aim of this investigation was to measure the sensitivity of lymphocytes against gamma irradiation in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and also find out the effect of such irradiations in causing chromosomal abnormalities.
Methods: In this investigation performed between April 2010 and July 2011, at the Department of Genetics, Cancer Institute of Iran, we studied the effects of gamma irradiation on the lymphocytes of 20 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The lymphocytes of 30 healthy donors were used to establish as a normal response to gamma irradiation and seven age-matched ataxia telangiectasia patients were recruited as positive control. The chromosomal radiosensitivity was assessed with the G2- and the G0-assay. We compared the mean number of chromosomal abnormalities such as chromosome and chromatid breakages, chromosome and chromatid gaps, and chromatid exchanges in one-hundred metaphases of patients and control groups.
Results: The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was statistically higher among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia than the normal controls (P<0.01). In total, 65% of the patients were sensitive to gamma irradiation, but the remaining 35% were similar to the normal controls. Patients with ataxia telangiectasia showed the highest sensitivity to gamma irradiation (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Our results showed that a high percentage of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were sensitive to irradiation, meaning that maximum care should be taken during their treatment to avoid unnecessary X-rays or radiotherapies.
Ali Ghasemi , Abdollah Banihashem , Nosrat Ghaemi , Saghi Elmi , Habibollah Esmaeili , Reza Erfani Sayyar, Sam Elmi ,
Volume 72, Issue 1 (4-2014)
Abstract
Background: In most children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) who have received chemotherapy with and without radi-otherapy, some late effects due to treatment may occur such as endocrinopathies.
Methods: We evaluated growth criteria (including short stature, obesity) and thyroid test function in 50 children with ALL (n= 25) and NHL (n= 25) 3-17 year-old in remis-sion period who randomly received chemotherapy with (n= 25) or without (n= 25) radi-ation such as our treatment groups. The values for height, weight and BMI in less than 5th or more than 95 th percentile considers abnormal.
Results: Six (12%) patients were in less than 5th percentile height (short stature). Two patients (4.0%) had over-weight and 48 (96%) were in normal range of BMI. Six (12%) patients were in less than 5th and 3 (6%) were in more than 95 th weight percentile. There was no significant difference between two different treatment groups for TSH (P= 0.662 (but there was a significant difference between these groups in case of T4 (P= 0.049(. Mean and SD for T4 in patients with chemotherapy alone was less than in whom received chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. There was no significant difference between ALL and NHL groups for TSH, T4 (P= 0.567, 0.528 respectively). Two boys with ALL without history of radiation had hypothyroidism that had based on their la-boratory data.
Conclusion: Regarding to effects of thyroid dysfunction on short stature and obesity in adolescent with ALL and NHL, we suggest to have more attention about growth, thy-roid test to avoid late side effect of malignancy treatment.
Fatemeh Rajabipour, Negar Sajjadian ,
Volume 76, Issue 4 (7-2018)
Abstract
Background: Acute leukemia is one of the most common types of childhood malignancies and one fourth of malignancies in this age group is acute leukemia. Acute leukemia may be myeloid or lymphoid. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is characterized with abnormal proliferation of lymphoid cells and symptoms related to this are acute and if disease is not treated appropriately, it progresses rapidly and end up to death. Diagnosis of these types of malignancies is easily made with evaluation of bone marrow and peripheral blood cells by an expert hematologist. One of the primary sites of leukemic involvement in childhood is oral cavity which is caused by infiltration of leukemic cells in this area. This causes signs and symptoms, for instance, oral lesions gingival hemorrhage and swelling.
Case presentation: We present a 13-year-old girl who was referred to local physician due to toothache and gingival lesions. Some medications were prescribed for her without any improvement. Then excision of this painful gingival lesion was done and diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was confirmed. After diagnosis and start of appropriate medical therapy, patient developed many different complications of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its related therapies. What make this presented case as an outstanding and interesting one is the mentioned complications which were more significant with multiple organ involvement in comparison with similar cases. These complications were treated by appropriate managements.
Conclusion: With new advance in treatment of ALL, survival rate of patients is increased but unfortunately morbidity rate is significant. These complications may be managed by appropriate therapies and close follow-up.
