We describe the clinical, cytological and cytogenetic features of 49 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in childhood. Three children had received prior cytotoxic treatment (group 1); all of these had cytogenetic abnormalities and died shortly after diagnosis. 22 children had constitutional anomalies (group 2). The remaining 24 MDS were considered as 'primary' (group 3). Hypoplastic marrow was found in nine cases, and only 53% of the MDS fitted the adult FAB classification. Transformation to AML occurred in 11 cases, development of aplastic anaemia in three cases, and spontaneous remission in one case each of RA and RAEB. Differences were observed between groups 2 and 3 in terms of mean age at diagnosis (11.1 months v 5 years), rate of cytogenetic anomalies (15% v 38%) and rate of progression towards acute leukaemia (13% v 29%). In group 2, all the fur girls studied exhibited a polyclonal pattern of X-inactivation, which suggests that MDS may be only the haematological expression of an embryological defect with different target tissues. This study suggests that some MDS in childhood can exhibit particular features such as congenital anomalies associated with MDS, bone marrow hypoplasia, polyclonality, and spontaneous remission. It emphasizes that the FAB classification is not adequate for children and addresses the question of whether these MDS are always malignant diseases.

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A 14-year-old girl with high fever, dyspnea and bilateral miliary nodules on chest X-ray, developed a rapidly progressive respiratory failure associated with histiocytic hemophagocytosis. Histologic examination of bone marrow biopsy revealed tuberculous granulomas with caseating necrosis. We report a pediatric case in which treatment with extracorporeal lung support and epipodophyllotoxin VP 16-213 was successful.

This case report shows that C. diphtheriae has not disappeared in the developed world and can be responsible of systemic infections.