BackgroundSickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disease worldwide. Neurological events are among the most worrisome clinical complications of SCD and are frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment. Intellectual function in SCD may vary according to genetic and environmental factors. Immigrant children with SCD are increasing at a global level and display specific health care needs. The aim of our multicenter study was to describe the intellectual function of first generation African immigrants with SCD and the influence of sociodemographic factors on its characteristics.MethodsThe Wechsler Intelligence Scales were administered to evaluate broad intellectual functions in children with SCD and in age-matched healthy siblings. Patients’ clinical, socio-demographic, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Angiography (MRA) data were correlated to intellectual function scores.Results68 children, mean age 8.95 years were evaluated. 72% spoke three languages, 21% two. FSIQ was <75 in 25% of the children. Mean VIQ was lower than PIQ in 75%. Mean verbal subtest scores were lower than performance scores. Female gender, number of languages spoken at home and mother’s employment were associated with single subtest performances (p < 0.05). MRA was abnormal in 73.4% and MRI in 35.9%. No significant correlation was established between silent lesions and intellectual function, even if patients with lesions performed worse. Fifteen siblings performed better than patients on cognitive domains, including language (p < 0.05).ConclusionsImmigrant bilingual children with SCD seem to display a rate of cognitive impairment similar to their monolingual counterparts but a more pronounced and precocious onset of language difficulties. Adjunctive tests need to be considered in this group of patients to better define their specific deficits.

Central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms are the most common solid tumors diagnosed in children. CNS tumors represent the leading cause of cancer death and cancer-related morbidity for children less than 20 years of age, although there has been a moderate increase in survival rates over the past several decades. The average survival at 5 years now nearly reaches 75%, and for some, non-malignant histology approximates 97% at 20 years from diagnosis. Neurological, cognitive, and neuropsychological deficits are the most disabling long-term effects of brain tumors in children. Childhood is a time of extreme brain sensitivity and the time of life in which most brain development occurs. Thus, the long-term toxicities that children treated for CNS tumors experience can affect multiple developmental domains and day-to-day functioning, ultimately leading to a poor quality of survival (QoS). We reviewed literature focusing on the risk factors for cognitive and neuropsychological impairment in pediatric patients treated for brain tumors with the aim of better understanding who is at major risk and what the best strategies for monitoring these patients are.

Pediatric sarcomas are rare malignancies accounting for about 10% of solid tumors in childhood. Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies, especially they include Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma Type Sarcomas (STSNR). Therapeutic management of pediatric sarcomas is challenging. Multidisciplinary approach including chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. The correct management of affected patients can be demanding, especially in terms of preserving a good quality of life (QoL). In the present study we described our experience with a series of patients diagnosed with head and neck non-metastatic sarcoma between January 1995 and December 2020, referred to Pediatric Oncology or to Maxillo-Facial Surgery of University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia.The survivors were asked to complete questionnaires on health-related quality of life (HRQoL; PedsQL and EORTC QLQ-H&N 43). We found satisfactory results in terms of global HRQoL; although outstanding issues persist, such as deterioration in masticatory function, and speech. Long-term sequelae of multimodality treatment may lead to both significant aesthetic-functional and psychosocial implications that need to be further investigate during the whole the care pathway.