Background Childhood cancer is a highly curable disease when timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy are provided. A negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on access to care for children with cancer is likely but has not been evaluated. METHODS A 34‐item survey focusing on barriers to pediatric oncology management during the COVID‐19 pandemic was distributed to heads of pediatric oncology units within the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) collaborative group, from the Middle East, North Africa, and West Asia. Responses were collected on April 11 through 22, 2020. Corresponding rates of proven COVID‐19 cases and deaths were retrieved from the World Health Organization database. Results In total, 34 centers from 19 countries participated. Almost all centers applied guidelines to optimize resource utilization and safety, including delaying off‐treatment visits, rotating and reducing staff, and implementing social distancing, hand hygiene measures, and personal protective equipment use. Essential treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, were delayed in 29% to 44% of centers, and 24% of centers restricted acceptance of new patients. Clinical care delivery was reported as negatively affected in 28% of centers. Greater than 70% of centers reported shortages in blood products, and 47% to 62% reported interruptions in surgery and radiation as well as medication shortages. However, bed availability was affected in <30% of centers, reflecting the low rates of COVID‐19 hospitalizations in the corresponding countries at the time of the survey. Conclusions Mechanisms to approach childhood cancer treatment delivery during crises need to be re‐evaluated, because treatment interruptions and delays are expected to affect patient outcomes in this otherwise largely curable disease.

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum and outcome-associated variables of pediatric malignant mediastinal masses in a resource-limited setting.

Burkitts lymphoma was the commonest type of NHL seen in this cohort that predominantly presented with an abdominal mass. Children usually presented in advanced stage with delayed diagnosis. Better supportive care can improve the prognosis significantly. Training of pediatricians is equally important along with increasing parental/family knowledge about the disease symptoms so that they can seek early medical care, and earlier diagnosis is possible.

Aim: To analyze the nutritional status of children with pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at presentation. Study design: Descriptive prospective study Place and duration of study: Department of Paediatric Haematology Oncology, Children Hospital, Lahore from March 2018 to April 2019. Methodology: A total of 195 children diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia on bone marrow biopsy were included. Anthropometric measurements were taken for each patient. Results: Out of 195 diagnosed patients with ALL, majority were having B-cell ALL 165(84.6%) and 30(15.4%) T-cell ALL. There was almost equal number of both standard and high risk patients (49% vs 51%) respectively. Mean age of children was 6.79±3.78 years and there was male predominance 120(61.5%). The percentage of children having weight for age <5th centile was 91(47), only 8(4%) were overweight or obese. Children under the age of five years had a slightly higher propensity of weight <5th centile i.e. 47(51.6%) as compared to older age group 5-10 years 26(28.7%) and >10 years 18(19.7%) (p=0.295).Similarly height for age was <5th centile in 50(26%) children in total, and in under 5 year age group 26(13.3%) but there was no statistically significant difference related to age above 5 years (p=0.547). Conclusion: Pediatric ALL has overall high prevalence of under nutrition and both weight for age and height for age is lower in under-five children as compared to older age group. Keywords: Children, cancer, nutrition, malnutrition, Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia

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Background: During COVID-19 pandemic, as the prime care is directed towards the management of infected cases, patients with non-communicable diseases are subject to lack of attention. Pediatric Hematology Oncology patients demand holistic care therefore might get affected tremendously during this pandemic. Procedure: An online cross-sectional survey was carried out among the Pediatric Hematologists-Oncologists from all over Pakistan in order to assess the pandemic effects. Responses were received online and data analyzed in SPSS 16.0. Results: Survey was sent to 96 Pediatric Hematologists-Oncologists from 14 different centers with 50% response rate. Majority (62%) were working in public sector hospitals, 14% reported to have

Objective: To determine the proportion of treatment-related mortality (TRM) among mortalities of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), to identify probable causes and risk factors. Methods: An observational; retrospective, cohort study. Pediatric patients of ALL who expired during treatment were enrolled. Death due to relapse and deaths before treatment were excluded. Retrospective data was collected from ward record and analyzed in SPSS 16. Results: Total 247 patients of ALL expired while 144 patients were enrolled as per inclusion criteria. The proportion of TRM was 58.3%. Median age was 5 years. Male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. Commonest cause of TRM was sepsis (n=126, 87.5%), followed by hemorrhagic complications (n=11, 7.6%), drug toxicity (n=4, 2.8%), tumor lysis syndrome (n=2, 1.4%) and thromboembolism (n=1, 0.7%). Significant factors associated with TRM were weight-for-age, immunophenotype, reason for admission and absolute neutrophil count. Conclusion: Treatment-related mortality though potentially avoidable is still a major cause of death among pediatric patients of ALL in low-middle income countries. Sepsis is the most common cause and infection prevention and control is vital in improving survival. Best supportive care must be made available for the patients on induction chemotherapy, with concomitant malnutrition, high-risk immunophenotype and profound neutropenia. Continuous...

Lymphoblastic lymphoma and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) are two distinct neoplasms with different pathogenesis and clinical presentation. We hereby share a challenging case of a child presenting with fever, leucocytosis, generalised lymphadenopathy and massive splenomegaly. He was diagnosed as having novel association of concurrent T-lymphoblastic lymphoma diagnosed on cervical lymph node biopsy with BCR-ABL negative CML on bone marrow aspirate. The study of more such cases is needed for optimal patient management.