Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma: Long-term Outcome in 87 Patients Who Presented With Paraplegia in Cameroon

Abstract

The reported long-term outcome of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) patients who present with paraplegia is largely unknown. Records of BL patients treated with comparable short-interval cyclophosphamide chemotherapy schedules between 2004 and 2014 at three Baptist mission hospitals in Cameroon were reviewed. Survivors were followed up and examined at home or in hospital. Eighty-seven of 948 (9.2%) patients had paraplegia at diagnosis. The survival rate in eBL patients with paraplegia at diagnosis was 33% (n = 29) after follow-up of between 2 and 96 (median 40) months. Seven patients (24%) had neurological sequelae and needed rehabilitation. There was no relationship between the duration of symptoms (<2, 2-4, >4 weeks) and the survival rate or the risk to have neurological sequelae. The survival rate and risk for sequelae were similar in patients with confirmed St. Jude stage III and IV diseases.

Destitution, treatment adherence and survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma in a twinning programme in Northwest Cameroon

“…Overall survival was 52% for this study population, with a male:female ratio of 1.5:1, similar to that in other reports . The mean age of 8.2 years was slightly older than that in some reports, but consistent with previous studies in Northwest Cameroon . The Psychosocial Issues Working Group of the International Paediatric Oncology Society suggested that refusal, non‐compliance and abandonment were major issues influencing overall survival in low‐ and middle‐income countries .…”

Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020

“…Two of the reports addressed awareness, 7,11 10 addressed diagnosis, registration, and epidemiology, 5,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] 18 addressed management and outcomes, 7,14,16,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] four addressed supportive care, [36][37][38][39] five addressed palliative care, [40][41][42][43][44] four addressed advocacy and F I G U R E 1 Map of Cameroon showing location of dedicated pediatric oncology units partnerships, 35,37,45,46 and one addressed T&CM 39 (Supporting Information File S1).…”

“…Additional follow-up has been done by means of outreaches and by using mobile phones to establish specific outcomes. 26 survival of 61% for BL at the above-mentioned three Baptist Hospitals, two of which were in the Northwest Region. 22,30 This was the first report on BL survival specific to Cameroon.…”

“…7,21 Results regarding survival are fragmentary, but do indicate improved survival, especially for BL and nephroblastoma. 14,16,23,26,28,52 Proper follow-up is essential for measuring outcomes, and the CBCHS centers keep both paper-based and electronic records at dedicated childhood cancer registry offices at MBH, BBH, and BHM. Additional follow-up has been done by means of outreaches and by using mobile phones to establish specific outcomes.…”

Subdissociative intranasal ketamine plus standard pain therapy versus standard pain therapy in the treatment of paediatric sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive crises in resource-limited settings: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…Current and former personnel from MBH have successfully collaborated on numerous national and international research investigations. [62][63][64][65][66][67] The pre-existing infrastructure present at both sites, combined with personal knowledge and established relations between study sites, allows for study feasibility and anticipated success.…”