Paediatric oncology in developing countries

Major hematologic diseases in the developing world- new aspects of diagnosis and management of thalassemia, malarial anemia, and acute leukemia

The three presentations in this session encompass clinical, pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects of hematologic diseases which impact most heavily on developing world countries. Dr. Victor Gordeuk discusses new insights regarding the multi-faceted pathogenesis of anemia in the complicated malaria occurring in Africa. He describes recent investigations indicating the possible contribution of immune dysregulation to this serious complication and the implications of these findings for disease management. Dr. Surapol Issaragrisil and colleagues describe epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the thalassemic syndromes. In addition to being considered a major health problem in Southeast Asia, the migration throughout the world of people from this region has caused the disease to have global impact. A unique thalassemia variant, Hb Ebeta-thalassemia, with distinctive clinical features, has particular relevance for this demographic issue. Special focus will be reported regarding recent prenatal molecular screening methods in Thailand which have proven useful for early disease detection and disease control strategies. Dr. Raul Ribeiro describes a clinical model for providing effective treatment for a complex malignancy (childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia) in countries with limited resources. With the multidisciplinary approach in Central American of the joint venture between St. Jude Children's Research Hospital International Outreach Program and indigenous health care personnel, major therapeutic advances for this disease have been achieved. Given the major demographic population shifts occurring worldwide, these illnesses also have important clinical implications globally. These contributions demonstrate that lessons learned within countries of disease prevalence aid our understanding and management of a number of disorders prominently seen in developed countries. They will show how effective partnerships between hematologists in more and less developed nations may work together to produce important advances for treating major hematologic diseases in less developed regions. A major focus relates to the socio-economic and medical burden of these diseases in developing countries with limited resources. As such, these problems provide a challenge and an opportunity for collaborative interaction between hematologists and policy makers worldwide.

Pediatric hematology and oncology in Cameroon, Africa: past and future perspectives

In Cameroon, nutritional disorders and infectious diseases account for the majority of pediatric deaths. Pediatric hematology and oncology as a subspecialty of its own is nonexistent. Cases are handled mainly in general pediatric wards. However, adult hematologists, radiotherapists, general practitioners also intervene. Diagnosis is made using available simple techniques. Treatments use adapted protocols elaborated by the lone pediatric hematologist-oncologist. Efforts are being made to create a specialized ward within the pediatric service of one of the teaching hospitals where treatment and care can be received at little or no cost.

Childhood leukemia is still a deadly disease in Yaounde, Cameroon: a report of 14 cases

In the Pediatric Unit of the University Teaching Hospital Center of Yaounde, 58 of 2,900 (2%) hospitalized children aged 0 to 15 years who had a malignancy were studied. Fourteen (24.1%) had acute leukemia based on morphologic and cytochemical studies. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was encountered in 11 of these patients (78.6%). The male to female ratio was 1.3 to 1. Nine of the 11 children (64.3%) were 5 years of age or younger. Eleven (78.6%) died of disease progression and its complications.