Clinical profile of pediatric oncology patients treated with radiation
therapy -- An institutional experience from Pakistan
Abstract
Background: This study aims to improve practices in pediatric
radiation oncology in LMIC by sharing an institutional experience of
radiation therapy (RT) for pediatric cancer at the Aga Khan University
Hospital. Methods: All patients from January 2009 to December
2020 who received radiation therapy at Aga Khan University Hospital were
included. Records were retrospectively reviewed from hospital
information management system (HIMS) and radiation oncology information
system were searched to identify children aged up to 19 years of age who
received RT based on the pediatric protocol. Data was reviewed for
frequencies and percentages were calculated for demographics, clinical
characteristics, and treatment-related variables. Results: A
total of 496 patients were offered RT for soft tissue and extra osseous
sarcomas (n=115 patients, 23.2%), lymphomas and reticuloendothelial
neoplasms (n=88 patients, 17.7%) and CNS and miscellaneous intracranial
and intraspinal neoplasms (n=86 patients, 17.3%) and malignant bone
tumors (n=77, 15.5% patients). The most common regions for radiation
were head and neck (n=144, 29%) and CNS (n= 123, 24.3%). General
anesthesia was used for radiation planning and/or execution of treatment
in 122 (26.8%) patients. More than half the patients (n=261, 53.16%)
received RT in the postoperative setting, 89 (18.13%) had RT as
consolidative treatment. 30 (6.1%) leukemia patients received
prophylactic radiation therapy and 103 (20.98%) received RT as a
definitive treatment modality. Conclusions: Our study reinforces
the use of radiation therapy in multidisciplinary management of
different pediatric tumors. A multi-level pediatric cancer registry is
required to assess the utilization of radiotherapy for different
pediatric tumors. This will help in planning systems to cater to the
needs of pediatric oncology management and survivorship.