Clinical Profile of Pediatric Oncology Patients Treated by External Beam Radiotherapy: An Institutional Experience

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric tumors are a heterogeneous group of malignant conditions requiring multimodal treatment, and management of such cases is at time challenging. We present the clinical profile of pediatric cancer patients who received radiation, either alone or as adjuvant to surgery and chemotherapy; in prophylactic, radical or palliative clinical setting. AIM: This study was envisaged to review our experience of pediatric oncology cases, their clinical and morphological profile, dosage schedule of radiotherapy, and the therapy induced complications. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective, observational study carried out in an apex tertiary care cancer institute of government set-up in a developing country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatment charts and clinical summary of patients who had received radiation over the last 5 years period were retrieved and perused. Various clinical and pathological parameters were studied and inferences drawn. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients got radiation over 5 year study-period, including 37 male and 13 female patients. The commonest age group of presentation was 8-12 years followed by 13-16 years. The mean age of presentation was 9.3 years. The most common diagnosis was hematological malignancies followed by CNS tumors with 21 and 13 patients respectively. Overall the most common indication of RT was in adjuvant setting after surgery as the definitive management, where 24 patients were irradiated; and the next common indication was prophylactic cranial irradiation in 14 patients of childhood leukemias. 10 patients tolerated treatment with Grade 1 site-specific or systemic toxicities while 7 patients developed Grade 2 and more systemic toxicities. 9 patients received craniospinal irradiation, common indications being medulloblastoma and Atypical teratoma rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). 3 patients received concurrent chemotherapy with weekly Inj Vincristine. 17 patients required sedation or short general anaesthesia for radiation planning and execution. CONCLUSION: External beam Radiotherapy constitutes an important component of management of pediatric cancers. One should be judicious in Radiotherapy planning, execution and monitoring acute and delayed toxicities.