ALU 301: Chapter 8: Childhood Cancers Exam Questions and Answers

Brain Tumors - ANSWER-The 2nd most frequent malignancy in children and adolescents. 45% mortality rate; highest morbidity of any childhood cancer. Astrocytoma - ANSWER-Most common pediatric brain lesion. It is located in the brain hemispheric area. Survival rates can approach 90% in the low-grade (1 and 2) astrocytoma. Medulloblastoma - ANSWER-Occurs almost exclusively in children and constitutes about 1/5 of primary brain tumors. Located in the posterior fossa of the brain. Complete removal is difficult. 5 year survival rate of about 50% but relapse can occur for several years. Ependymoma - ANSWER-Difficult prognosis; not amenable to surgery; 40% five-year survival rate. Neuroblastoma - ANSWER-Most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. About half are diagnosed before the age of two and close to 90% before the age of five. 5 year survival rate of 87% for children under 1 year and 65% in children age 1-14. Locations and symptoms of neuroblastomas - ANSWER-Most arise in the abdomen, either in an adrenal gland or in sympathetic ganglia nearby. Symptoms include bone pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and fever. Nephroblastoma (Wilm's tumor) - ANSWER-Arises from the kidney and is composed of 3 separate elements: blatema, epithelia and stroma. Most common in preschool children. 7% of cases are bilateral. 5 year survival rate of about 90%. Retinoblastoma - ANSWER-Diagnosed by the sign of leucocoria, a white papillary reflex to the reflection of light found during an ophthalmologic exam. Accounts for 3% of malignancies in children; 90% cure rate. Older age is usually associated with more advanced disease and poorer prognosis. Bone tumors - ANSWER-Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are the two most common types of malignant bone tumors in children. Osteosarcoma is more common and males are affected more than females.