Incidence, clinical distribution, and patient characteristics of childhood cancer in Saudi Arabia: A population‐based analysis

Belgaumi, Asim; Pathan, Ghulam Q.; Siddiqui, Khawar; Ali, Ashraf; Al-Fawaz, I.; Al‐Sweedan, Suleimman; Ayas, Mouhab; Al-Kofide, Amani

doi:10.1002/pbc.27684

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Closeness to a tertiary center and ready access to neuroimaging have previously been cited as determinants of early diagnosis [13,14]. We believe that small population size, high physician to population ratio, urban habitation, and easy Headache (19) VomiƟng (17) Oculovisual (9) Motor Weakness (8) Seizures (8) Ataxia (9) Cranial Nerve Palsy (7) Irritability 7Endocrine 4Head Tilt (5) Altered Consciousness (2) Others (12) Above 10 years 3-10 years Up to 3 years Total…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Presenting symptoms and time to diagnosis for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors in Qatar: a report from Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service in Qatar

et al. 2020

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Introduction There are no previous published reports on primary pediatric tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) in Qatar. We undertook this retrospective cohort study to review the diagnosis of CNS tumors in children in Qatar to analyze the presentation characteristics including symptoms, referral pathways, and time to diagnosis. Methods All children registered with Pediatric Neuro-Oncology service (PNOS) were included in the study. Data from the time of diagnosis (October 2007 to February 2020) were reviewed retrospectively. Presenting symptoms were recorded and prediagnosis symptom interval (PSI) was calculated from the onset of the first symptom to the date of diagnostic imaging. Results Of the 61 children registered with PNOS during the study period, 51 were included in the final analysis. Ten children were excluded because they were either diagnosed outside Qatar (n = 7) or were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis (n = 3). The median age was 45 (range 1-171) months. Common tumor types included low-grade glioma (LGG) (47.1%) and medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) (23.5%). Nine children had an underlying neurocutaneous syndrome. Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) had at least one previous contact with healthcare (HC) professional, but 27 (52%) were still diagnosed through the emergency department (ED). Presenting symptoms included headache, vomiting (36.2%), oculo-visual symptoms (20.6%), motor weakness (18.9%), seizures, ataxia (17.2% each), irritability, cranial nerve palsies (12% each), and endocrine symptoms (10.3%). Median PSI was 28 days (range 1-845 days) for all CNS tumors. Longest PSI was seen with germ cell tumors (median 146 days), supratentorial location (39 days), and age above 3 years (30 days). Tumor characteristics of biological behavior (high-grade tumor) and location (infratentorial) were significantly associated with shorter PSI, as were presenting symptoms of ataxia, head tilt, and altered consciousness. Conclusions Although overall diagnostic times were acceptable, some tumor types were diagnosed after a significant delay. The awareness campaign, such as the "HeadSmart" campaign in the United Kingdom (UK), can improve diagnostic times in Qatar. Further research is required to better understand the reasons for the delay.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are also associated with the highest rate of cancer-related deaths in children [2,4,5]. The overall incidence of cancer and brain tumors in 0-14year-old children follows the same pattern in Qatar, as elsewhere [6,7]. Establishing the diagnosis of a CNS tumor is the crucial first step before treatment can be initiated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presenting symptoms and time to diagnosis for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors in Qatar: a report from Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service in Qatar

et al. 2020

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“…The most common reported cancers are lym-phoid leukemia followed by brain tumors, and then Hodgkin's lymphoma. [5] On the other hand, due to the high rate of consanguinity, the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in Saudi Arabia is considered high (4.50%) compared to Middle East countries (0.05%). [6] Hematopoietic cell transplantation preceded by intensive chemotherapy is usually the treatment of choice for relapsed oncological cases or children with genetic blood diseases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents' Awareness and Oral Health Care Measures of Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Alkhuwaiter¹

2021

J Pediatr Dent

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the parents' awareness and practices towards oral health care of children receiving chemotherapy.Materials and Methods: Data was collected through a questionnaire-based survey at King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital (KASCH), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions regarding the oral hygiene practices and whether any other oral hygiene measures are used and distributed to the parents of a pediatric patient receiving chemotherapy. Absolute and percentage frequencies were used for statistical analysis of the data.Results: A total of seventy-seven parents of pediatric Hematology-Oncology patients on chemotherapy completed the questionnaire. About 39% of the parents brush their child's teeth once per day. The majority of the patients had not taken to the dentist before (75.3%). Regarding the dental complications during chemotherapy, more than half of the patients complained of tooth pain. Most of the parents (70%) received preventive dental advice during chemotherapy. For the mouth wash, 81.8% of the parents use mouthwash for their child. The majority of the parents (93.5%) are interested in the dental care of their children. Conclusion:The availability of basic oral care protocol, which includes preventive, supportive measures, and management of oral complications will increase the quality of care provided to those medically comprised patients. Also, the need for educational programs for both the patients and the guardian to increase the knowledge and awareness of the importance of oral care and daily oral hygiene practices during or after the completion of the treatment.

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“…Data shows that the number of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in the Middle East has increased over the past decade especially in younger age groups [8], in parallel to reduced HL associated mortalities worldwide between 2005 and 2015 [9]. Improvement in living conditions, healthcare systems, and modern treatment protocols have contributed to improved mortality [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To the best of our knowledge, there is a paucity of data available which describes the clinic-pathological features and survival rate of childhood and adolescent HL in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. The recent increased prevalence of HL occurring in children and young adults [8] prompted us to review the clinic-pathological data and survival outcome of HL in Saudi Arabia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinicopathologic features and therapy outcome in childhood Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a report from tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

Alkhayat

Alshahrani

Elyamany

et al. 2021

J Egypt Natl Canc Inst

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Background Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is lymphoid neoplasm usually affecting lymphatic system; it accounts 3.6% of cancers in Saudi Arabia. Modern treatment protocols had shown particular success rates in overall-survival (OS) and event-free-survival (EFS). In our study, we reviewed the medical records of 80 pediatric and young adolescent patients diagnosed HL from January 2006 to July 2020, treated at tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were explored. First line therapy was ABVD, COG, COPP, R-CHOP, or radiotherapy alone in 53/80 (66.4%), 24/80 (30%), 1/80 (1.2%), 1/80 (1.2%), or 1/80 (1.2%) patients; respectively. Response assessment was done by CT + / − PET scan after first 2 cycles then every 2 cycle and end of therapy. Another assessment was done if any clinical suspicion of recurrence. Results Median age 11 (range 3–16) years. Males to females 1.3:1. Seventy-two out of eighty (90%) patients showed first complete remission (CR1) and maintained remission for median 40 (range 7–136) months. Eight out of eighty (10%) patients showed refractory disease. Nineteen patients received salvage therapy (ICE or ESHAP/brentuximab vedotin or gemcitabine/brentuximab vedotin), 14/19 (73.7%) had 2nd complete remission (CR2) for median time 24 (ranged 9–78) months, while 5/19 (26.3%) did not show any response. Five-year OS and EFS were 95% and 75%. Two patients had 2ry malignant neoplasms, one had AML and died, the other had malignant fibrous histocytoma and still alive. None of our patients had fertility problem. Also, they did not experience chronic pulmonary or cardiotoxicity. Classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma: nodular sclerosis subtype was more prominent (55%) than mixed cellularity subtype (22.5%), which is similar to several European and US studies, lymphocyte rich (11.25%) and lymphocyte depleted (0%), while nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma (11.25%). Conclusions Our study provided unique descriptive study of childhood HL, in Saudi Arabia, with valuable insight into the long-term outcome and late toxicity. Our results are comparable to other studies in the Middle East and European countries.

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Incidence, clinical distribution, and patient characteristics of childhood cancer in Saudi Arabia: A population‐based analysis

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Presenting symptoms and time to diagnosis for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors in Qatar: a report from Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service in Qatar

Presenting symptoms and time to diagnosis for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors in Qatar: a report from Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service in Qatar

Parents' Awareness and Oral Health Care Measures of Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Clinicopathologic features and therapy outcome in childhood Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a report from tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

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