Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Clinical discussions on pediatric blood disorders, childhood cancers, and specialized treatment protocols.
Recent Discussions
What are your recommendations for a male patient who was recently started on imatinib and wants to conceive?
Great question. This comes up often. For males, they can continue to take their CML TKI and conceive a child. Of course, this is much more complicated for women as they should not be pregnant while taking a TKI. I would say that if the patient is having difficulties conceiving, he should undergo a ...
Would you consider using DOACs in a young patient with SLE and Libman-Sacks endocarditis, who is negative for APS?
In this scenario, our patient with lupus is young and does not have features of APS. Nevertheless, any patient with Libman Sacks endocarditis carries a heightened risk for embolization. Regarding anticoagulation, the literature on this subject is anecdotal and conflicting with some authors recommend...
In a patient with stage 1 mixed germ cell tumor who cleared tumor markers post-orchiectomy but with subsequent rise to borderline abnormal within 6 weeks, would you treat with 3 cycles BEP as for S1 disease?
Several points to begin with. My strong preference is to recommend active surveillance for all well documented clinical stage 1 nonseminoma whether or not there is embryonal predominance or lymphovascular invasion present. Second, I do not make treatment decisions based on borderline abnormal normal...
How do you manage patients with chemotherapy-induced paronychia?
I manage patients with chemotherapy-induced paronychia with a few tricks: First, ensure that there is no infection (active drainage, especially purulent) is more indicative of infection, as well as appropriate hygiene. Topical steroids and soothing soaks (such as Domeboro or diluted distilled white ...
Do you routinely offer antiviral prophylaxis for patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy?
Yes, with R-CHOP and similar therapies for anyone who may have had chickenpox. I have seen shingles during treatment. I have not been doing routinely for younger patients who had VZV vaccines. Yes also for anyone with a history of HSV. Usually acyclovir BID.
Would you anticoagulate recurrent venous thromboembolism in a patient with Ehlers Danlos syndrome?
Yes, but know the hx of bleeding. Would use low dose Coumadin one 1.5 to 2, have good antidotes for Coumadin.
Based on recent data would you consider adding ATRA to low dose rituximab for steroid refractory ITP?
This is hard to answer in the absence of much more information about the patient. In a steroid refractory patient, it is important to understand why. This puts the patient immediately into a meeting refractory group (not responding to steroids). If there is an immediate need, IVIG is better. If the ...
Do you recommend hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin who have recurrent vaso-occlusive crises requiring hospital admission?
It’s complicated. Patients with sickle cell-HPFH that is due to deletion of the beta-globin gene usually have 30% HbF spread nearly evenly among their red cells (pancellular), and as a result, have almost normal hematology and rarely have sickle vasoocclusive events. They do not require treatment. (...
Is there any benefit to transplant patients with Ph+ ALL who have achieved MRD-negativity?
First, some semantics: Asking if there is a "benefit to transplant" may imply there are randomized controlled trials addressing this question, but none to my knowledge have been performed. The last "donor-no donor" trials done in adults with ALL in first remission largely occurred in the pre-TKI era...
Would you give antithrombin concentrate for surgical VTE prophylaxis in case of congenital AT deficiency?
There is no role for routine antithrombin (AT) infusions. In selected situations, during high risk e.g. periods surgery or labor and delivery, etc when anticoagulants are interrupted, AT replenishment is reasonable.