Radiation therapy in the neonate

Journal Article · · Am. J. Pediatr. Hematol./Oncol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5403903

Littman, P; D'Angio, G J

Radiation therapy (RT) is frequently used in the management of children with cancer, but neonatal neoplasms are rare. Newborns represent 1.5% of the children with malignant diseases in the Tumor Registry at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia over the last 30 years. Thus, occasionally the pediatrics radiation therapist must consider treating the very young infant. The specific radiation effects on growth and development must be weighed in reaching a therapeutic decision. All children are vulnerable to the late effects of radiation therapy, but the neonates may be more susceptible because of the immaturity of important organs such as the brain, lung, liver, kidney, and bone. In general, radiation therapy, should be avoided during the first several weeks of life because of the potential increased sensitivity of the liver and kidneys during that period. If radiation therapy is used at all during infancy, the benefits must be weighed against the possibility of significant late effects. Increasing knowledge of pediatric neoplasms has shown that some tumors (such as mesoblastic nephroma) require no treatment except for surgical excision; and other tumors, such as Stage IV-S neuroblastoma, may require very little treatment. In those tumors that require radiation therapy, the use of chemotherapy may allow reduction of the radiation dose. Furthermore, alterations of time-dose-fractionation schemes and careful attention to tumor volume with the use of special techniques, such as ''shrinking fields,'' may decrease the late adverse effects of treatment.

• OSTI ID: 5403903
• Journal Information: Am. J. Pediatr. Hematol./Oncol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Pediatr. Hematol./Oncol.; (United States) Vol. 3:3; ISSN APHOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHILDREN
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
GLANDS
INFANTS
IRRADIATION
KIDNEYS
LIVER
LUNGS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIDE EFFECTS
SKELETON
THERAPY