Complete surgical excision is effective treatment for children with immature teratomas with or without malignant elements: A Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group Intergroup Study

PURPOSE

To determine whether the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of children with completely resected immature teratomas is greater than 85%.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with immature teratomas treated at Pediatric Oncology Group or Children's Cancer Group institutions were eligible. Pathology was centrally reviewed to confirm diagnosis and tumor grading. Follow-up included physical examination, measurement of tumor markers (alpha fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin), and imaging. All patients were monitored for events, defined as tumor recurrence, second malignancy, or death.

RESULTS

Seventy-three children (median age, 7.8 years) with extracranial immature teratomas were enrolled on study. Primary tumor sites included ovarian (n = 44), testicular (n = 7), and extragonadal (n = 22). However, on review, 23 patients had foci of yolk sac tumor (n = 21) or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n = 2), whereas 50 had pure immature teratomas. Twenty-five patients had increased alpha fetoprotein (n = 18), human chorionic gonadotropin (n = 5), or both (n = 2); nine had foci of yolk sac tumor on review. Pathology review identified 23 patients with grade 1, 29 with grade 2, and 21 with grade 3 immature teratomas. With a median follow-up of 35 months, the overall 3-year EFS was 93% (95% confidence interval, 86% to 98%), with 3-year EFS of 97.8%, 100%, and 80% for patients with ovarian, testicular, and extragonadal tumors, respectively. Only four of 23 patients with immature teratoma and malignant foci developed recurrence, suggesting that surgical resection followed by close observation are effective treatment. Overall, five patients had disease recurrence 4 to 7 months from diagnosis, and four (80%) are disease free after platinum-based therapy. The fifth patient has residual tumor after cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin treatment requiring further therapy.

CONCLUSION

Surgical excision is safe and effective treatment for 80% to 100% of children with immature teratoma.

Outcome and staging evaluation in malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary in children and adolescents: an intergroup study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to perform an evaluation of outcome and the role of surgical staging components in malignant germ cell tumors (GCT) of the ovary in children and adolescents.

METHODS

From 1990 to 1996, 2 intergroup trials for malignant GCT were undertaken by Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) and Children's Cancer Study Group (CCG). Stage I-II patients were treated with surgical resection and 4 cycles of standard dose cisplatin (100 mg/m2/cycle), etoposide, and bleomycin (PEB) chemotherapy. Stage III-IV patients were treated with surgical resection and randomly assigned to chemotherapy with PEB or high-dose cisplatin (200 mg/m2/cycle) with etoposide and bleomycin (HDPEB). Patients unresectable at diagnosis had second-look operation after 4 cycles of chemotherapy if residual tumor was seen on imaging studies. IRB approval of the protocols was obtained at each participating institution. An analysis of outcome data, operative notes, and pathology reports in girls with ovarian primary site was done for this report.

RESULTS

There were 131 patients with ovarian primary tumors of 515 entered on these studies. Mean age was 11.9 years (range, 1.4 to 20 years). Six-year survival rate was stage, I 95.1%; stage II, 93.8%; stage III, 98.3%; stage IV, 93.3%. In only 3 of 131 patients were surgical guidelines followed completely. Surgical omissions resulting in protocol noncompliance resulted from failure to biopsy bilateral nodes (97%), no omentectomy (36%), no peritoneal cytology (21%), no contralateral ovary biopsy (59%). More aggressive procedure than recommended by guidelines included total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 6 patients and retroperitoneal node dissection in 10 patients. Correlation of gross operative findings with pathology results was carried out for ascites, lymph nodes, implants, omentum, and contralateral ovary.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric ovarian malignant GCT (stages I-IV) have excellent survival with conservative surgical resection and platinum-based chemotherapy. Survival appears to have been unaffected by deviations from surgical guidelines. New surgical guidelines are proposed based on correlation of gross findings, histology, and outcome in these intergroup trials.

Long-term outcomes after lower extremity trauma

Previous studies have shown that over one-quarter of patients who were working before a severe lower extremity fracture had not returned to work by 12 months after injury. Disabilities also persisted in household management, recreation, and social interaction. The objective of this study was to determine whether recovery extended beyond 12 months. Three hundred nineteen patients who were previously working and were treated at three level I trauma centers for a severe lower extremity fracture were prospectively followed at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. Patients were queried at each follow-up about their work status and completed the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) at 6 and 12 months. The SIP is a widely used and well validated measure of general health status; it was used in this study to measure functional recovery across several domains of daily living. Patients who had not recovered by 12 months (i.e., 204 who were not working, working with limitations, or had limitations in performing other daily activities as measured by elevated scores on the SIP) were contacted again at 30 months and asked to complete an interview and the SIP. At 30 months, an estimated 82% of the study patients had returned to work (compared to 72% at 12 months). SIP scores improved only slightly from 6.4 at 12 months to 5.7 at 30 months. At 30 months, 64% of the patients had no disability (SIP scores less than 4), 17% had mild disability (SIP scores of 4 to 9), 12% had moderate disability (SIP scores of 10 to 19), and 7% had severe disability (SIP scores of 20 or higher). Although the majority of patients with persistent disabilities at 30 months had residual physical impairments at 12 months, the extent of impairment did not fully explain why some people had and had not recovered at 30 months after injury. The results confirm those of other studies that conclude that overall, outcomes after serious trauma are good when appropriate trauma and rehabilitation care are rendered. However, a minority of patients still report limitations at 30 months after injury, with one-fifth not returning to work.

The Sickness Impact Profile as a tool to evaluate functional outcome in trauma patients

Because the ultimate goal of trauma care is to restore injured patients to their former functional status, reliable evaluation of functional status is needed to assess fully the effectiveness of trauma care. We hypothesized that the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a widely used measure of general health status, would be a useful tool to evaluate the long-term functional outcome of trauma patients and that the SIP would identify unexpected problems in the recovery process and groups of patients at high risk for long-term disability. A prospective cohort of 329 patients with lower extremity fractures admitted to three level I trauma centers were interviewed using SIP at 6 and 12 months postinjury. Patients with major neurologic injuries were excluded. Overall SIP scores and each of the component subscores may range from 0 (no disability) to 100. In this series, the mean overall SIP was 9.5 at 6 months and 6.8 at 12 months, compared with a preinjury baseline of 2.5. At 12 months, 52% of patients had no disability (SIP 0 to 3), 23% mild disability (4 to 9), 16% moderate disability (10 to 19), and 9% severe disability ( > or = 20). Disability was widely distributed across the spectrum of activities of daily living, including physical functioning (mean score of 5.5), psychosocial health (mean score of 5.5), sleeping (mean score of 10.0), and work (mean score of 21.0). The SIP scores did not correlate with Injury Severity Score.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Safety belt restraints and compartment intrusions in frontal and lateral motor vehicle crashes: mechanisms of injuries, complications, and acute care costs

A 3-year prospective study examined 76 frontal (F) and 45 lateral (L) motor vehicle crash (MVC) patients with regard to seatbelt restraint use and occupant compartment contact and intrusion injuries. These 121 MVC victims with multiple injuries (39 belted [B] and 82 non-belted [NB]), admitted to a level I trauma center, were studied by accident reconstruction and medical data analysis. They had a MVC mean impact velocity (delta V) of 30 +/- 11 mph and an injury Severity Score of 29 +/- 12. Proper restraint use reduced brain injury in F MVCs (30% FB vs. 47% FNB) but had no effect in L MVCs (63% LB vs. 30% FB [p < 0.06]). Belt use did not protect against lung, liver, spleen, pelvis, or lower extremity (LE) injury. These appeared to be more a function of crash direction, with LE injuries higher in F crashes (p < 0.04) and pelvis injuries (p < 0.001) higher in L crashes. In FB crashes, however, properly used safety restraints were the primary cause of bowel or colon injuries (p < 0.006). Belts did not prevent thoracic or abdominal solid organ injuries in L crashes. Contact-intrusions (CI) of the car occupant compartment in F crashes were the main cause of brain (A-pillar), lung and liver (steering wheel and instrument panel), and LE (toepan) injuries; but in L crashes, side-door CI caused lung, aorta, liver, and pelvic injuries. In contrast, contact-only (CO) injuries of the steering assembly were mainly responsible for injuries to the lung, heart, and liver in F crashes, and side-door CO for lung, liver, and spleen injuries in L crashes. Deaths and complications after injury were higher among F MVC occupants, or when delta V was > or = 30 mph. Hospital and professional costs reflect the complex care needed for victims of multiple injuries: FB, $99,000; FNB, $95,000; LB, $75,000; LNB, $79,000; total, $10.7 million. Present vehicle safety standards are not adequate, and structural design changes are needed to improve restraints and protect occupants from intrusion-related injuries.

Immature teratomas in children: pathologic considerations: a report from the combined Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group

Pediatric germ cell tumors (n = 135) with a major component of immature teratoma (IT) registered on Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group treatment protocols from 1990 to 1995 were reviewed. Sixty cases were pure IT with no malignant component and 75 were mixed tumors with a major component of IT. Foci of yolk sac tumor (YST) were present in all 75 mixed tumors; additional malignant components were present in 15. The IT component was as follows: 47% grade 3, 29% grade 2, 24% grade 1. There were no significant correlations between tumor grade and patient age by specific subsets or overall (all p > 0.10). Significant correlations were detected between stage and the presence of foci of YST (p = 0.0145) and grade and the presence of foci of YST (p < 0.001). Serum alpha-fetoprotein concentrations were elevated at diagnosis in 96% of ovarian tumors with foci of YST and were mildly elevated (< 60 ng/dL) in only 16% of tumors without YST. Overall 2- to 6-year survival rate was 96% and was related to the presence of YST. Central pathologic review revealed aspects of morphologic diagnosis that were most frequently misinterpreted by contributing pathologists. These included the classification of differentiating tissues as immature and the failure to recognize two well-differentiated patterns of YST (the hepatoid pattern resembling fetal liver and the well-differentiated glandular pattern resembling fetal lung or intestine). Such foci were often overlooked. The authors conclude that the presence of microscopic foci of YST, rather than the grade of IT, per se, is the only valid predictor of recurrence in pediatric IT at any site.

Surgical resection alone is effective treatment for ovarian immature teratoma in children and adolescents: a report of the pediatric oncology group and the children's cancer group

OBJECTIVE

In both adult women and children the potential for malignant recurrence from ovarian immature teratoma has prompted the standard use of chemotherapy after complete resection of the primary tumor. The efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy in children and adolescents with ovarian immature teratoma, however, has not been established. A pediatric intergroup trial (INT 0106) was designed to determine the need for postoperative chemotherapy in patients with ovarian immature teratoma after management with surgical resection only.

STUDY DESIGN

Between 1990 and 1995, 44 patients with completely resected ovarian immature tumor and without postoperative chemotherapy, who were able to undergo assessment, were accrued. Tumor tissue was evaluated by central pathology review to confirm diagnosis and determine tumor grading of immature neural elements. Patients were followed carefully for recurrence of disease with appropriate diagnostic imaging and serum marker studies.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients had pure ovarian immature teratoma with a tumor grade of 1 (n = 17), 2 (n = 12), or 3 (n = 2). Age at diagnosis ranged between 1.5 and 15 years (median, 10). Of the 29 patients studied, the serum alpha-fetoprotein level was elevated in 10 (34%); the median level was 25 ng/ml. Thirteen patients had ovarian immature teratoma plus microscopic foci of yolk sac tumor. Tumor grade was 1, 2, or 3 in 1, 6, and 6 patients, respectively. Age ranged between 6 and 20 years (median, 12). In the 12 patients evaluated for serum alpha-fetoprotein, 10 (83%) had elevated levels; the median level was 262 ng/ml. The 4-year event-free and overall survival for the ovarian immature teratoma group and for the ovarian immature teratoma plus yolk sac tumor group was 97.7% (95% confidence interval, 84.9%-99.7%) and 100%, respectively. The only yolk sac tumor relapse occurred in a child with ovarian immature teratoma and yolk sac tumor who was then treated with chemotherapy and is alive and free of disease 57 months after recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that surgery alone is curative for most children and adolescents with resected ovarian immature teratoma of any grade, even when elevated levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein or microscopic foci of yolk sac tumor are present. This experience strongly supports avoiding the long-term effects of chemotherapy in most children with ovarian immature teratoma by reserving postoperative therapy for cases with relapse.

Cytogenetic analysis of childhood endodermal sinus tumors: a Pediatric Oncology Group study

Most adult germ cell tumors have a consistent cytogenetic abnormality, i(12p), and are aneuploid. Many pediatric germ cell tumors are biologically distinct from their adult counterparts, particularly endodermal sinus tumors (ESTs) of young children. We report cytogenetic and ploidy analysis of nine ESTs involving children under 3 years of age (four extragonadal and five testicular). Structural abnormalities were present in seven tumors and were identifiable in six: 5/6 had a structural abnormality of chromosome 1, usually terminal deletion of 1p; 5/6 showed 6q deletion; 3/6 had structural abnormalities of 3p; 2/6 showed abnormalities of chromosome 2. None showed an i(12p) or abnormality of chromosome 12. Ploidy analysis of the tumors correlated with the cytogenetic analysis; in particular, the tumor that was cytogenetically normal showed no aneuploid peaks. To determine if a marker chromosome was derived from chromosome 12 or if karyotypically normal cases included nondividing tumor cells, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization using an alpha satellite probe for chromosome 12 was performed. These studies showed no evidence of an i(12p). We conclude that ESTs in young children show cytogenetic differences from their adult counterparts and that loci on 1p, 6q, and 3q need to be further studied.

Determinants of disability after lower extremity fracture

BACKGROUND

Factors influencing the progression of physical impairment to patient-perceived disability are not well known. We sought to better understand this relationship in the setting of injury.

METHODS

We followed a cohort of 302 patients with lower extremity fractures over a 1-year period. Physical impairment was assessed by range of motion, strength, and pain. Range of motion and strength were assessed together as a proportion of normal function of the extremity (impairment score). Pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score. Disability was assessed using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a widely used measure of patient-perceived limitations of everyday activities attributable to illness. The SIP was administered during hospitalization to assess preinjury baseline. Impairment assessment and readministration of the SIP were performed at 12 months after injury.

RESULTS

Impairment in leg function (range of motion and strength) was highly correlated (p < 0.001) with overall SIP score at 12 months, but accounted for only 23% of the variance in overall SIP scores. Likewise, VAS pain score was highly correlated (p < 0.001) with overall SIP score at 12 months, but accounted for only 29% of the variance in overall SIP scores. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, variables that were independently associated with overall SIP score included impairment score, VAS pain score, preinjury SIP, poverty status, education status, social support, having hired a lawyer, and involvement with workers' compensation. These variables accounted for 52% of the variance in overall SIP scores at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

The degree of physical impairment accounts for only a small amount of the variance in disability from lower extremity fracture. Identifiable patient characteristics including age, socioeconomic status, preinjury health, and social support together with impairment account for over half of the variance in long-term disability. Further research is needed to increase understanding of other factors that influence the progression of impairment to disability, especially those factors that may be amenable to intervention.

Gut failure--predictor of or contributor to mortality in mechanically ventilated blunt trauma patients?

Thirty-seven ventilator-dependent blunt trauma patients (ISS 36 +/- 15) were randomized at 24 hours after injury to receive parenteral (TPN) (n = 15), enteral (TEN) (n = 12), or parenteral plus enteral (PN/EN) (n = 10) nutrition. The TEN and PN/EN patients had endoscopically placed transpyloric feeding tubes. Patients who had nutritional complications were two TPN (13%), three TEN (25%), and five PN/EN (50%). Enteral complications were tube occlusion (two), failed duodenal intubation (one), patient extubation of feeding tube (one), gastric reflux (two), and abdominal distention (two). Mortality rates were not different between the groups, but were significantly related to the nutrition-associated complications (p = 0.01): four deaths in ten (40%) with complications and one death in 27 (3.7%) without complications. All four deaths associated with complications occurred in the four with gastric reflux or abdominal distention. No deaths occurred in the other 18 TEN or PN/EN patients (p = 0.0001). Of the four deaths, three were associated with ARDS and respiratory infection (75%).

CONCLUSIONS

In mechanically ventilated blunt trauma patients, endoscopic transpyloric tube placement and feeding has a substantial failure rate (36%). Intolerance to duodenal feeding has a remarkably high mortality (100%) in patients in whom gut dysfunction may be a manifestation of injury severity or directly affect survival.

Malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors: an intergroup study

PURPOSE

This review was conducted to determine clinical characteristics and response to therapy in this rare pediatric neoplasm.

METHODS

An intergroup Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) 9049/Children's Cancer Study Group (CCG) 8882 randomized trial was conducted to evaluate response rate and survival with chemotherapy using etoposide, bleomycin, and high or standard dose cisplatin for high-risk malignant germ cell tumors at extragonadal sites. For this review, a secondary analysis of clinical and operative findings in patients with primary site in the mediastinum was carried out.

RESULTS

Of the 38 children with malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors (MGCT), 36 had sufficient data to be included in this review. Thirty-four tumors were anterior mediastinal, 2 were intrapericardial. Younger patients had respiratory complaints; older patients had chest pain, precocious puberty, or facial fullness. Yolk sac tumor was the only malignant element in girls. Boys had yolk sac tumor in 7, germinoma in 3, choriocarcinoma in 2, and mixed malignant elements in 15. Benign teratoma elements coexisted in 22 patients. Four patients had biopsy and chemotherapy without tumor resection, and only 1 survived. Fourteen patients had resection at diagnosis followed by chemotherapy with 12 survivors. Eighteen patients had biopsy followed by chemotherapy and postchemotherapy tumor resection with 13 survivors. Tumor size in response to chemotherapy for these 18 patients was stable or increased in 6, and decreased in 12 (mean decrease of 57% in greatest dimension). Overall, 26 of 36 patients survived, with a 4-year patient survival rate of 71%+/-10%, and a 4-year event-free survival rate of 69%+/-10%. Ten patients died: 5 of tumor (all boys > or =15 yr), 2 of sepsis, and 3 of second malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant MGCT is a complex tumor of varied histology with frequent coexistence of benign elements. Lesions often have incomplete regression with chemotherapy alone. Tumor resection may be undertaken at diagnosis or after attempted shrinkage with chemotherapy. Aggressive attempt at complete tumor resection should be offered to all patients even if bulky tumor persists after induction chemotherapy with expectation of a significant salvage rate. Boys > or =15 years may be a high-risk subgroup for mortality from tumor progression.

The prepubertal testis (prenatal and postnatal): its relationship to intratubular germ cell neoplasia: a combined Pediatric Oncology Group and Children's Cancer Study Group

Seminiferous tubules adjacent to germ cell tumors (GCT) in prepubertal boys frequently contain increased germ cells with abundant, clear cytoplasm. These cells are placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) negative and are usually not considered to represent intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN). A recent case report found p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positivity in such cells and equated these PLAP-negative cells with ITGCN. Because the proto-oncogene c-kit is also a marker of ITGCN, immunohistochemical tests for c-kit and PLAP were performed on 28 testes adjacent to prepubertal GCT in children aged 2 to 45 months. Additional slides from testes not associated with GCT from 18 preterm infants and children ages 19 weeks to 7 years were also tested. An adult testis with seminoma and ITGCN served as a positive control. PCNA, PLAP, and p53 were tested on available slides. No intratubular germ cells adjacent to GCT in prepubertal children were positive for PLAP or c-kit; five of seven were positive for PCNA; p53 was present in the two examined. These results indicate that germ cells adjacent to infantile GCT are proliferative but not neoplastic and offer additional evidence that intratubular germ cells and GCT in prepubertal boys are different from those of adolescents and adults.

Genetic analysis of childhood endodermal sinus tumors by comparative genomic hybridization

Childhood endodermal sinus tumors (CEST) are a distinct category of germ cell tumors that involve the testis and extragonadal sites of young children. Recurrent deletions of 1p and 6q have been reported by classic cytogenetic analysis of a small number of cases. Comparative genomic hybridization, a technique that screens the entire genome for genetic abnormalities, is applied to additionally define the genetic changes present in CESTs. Sixteen frozen CESTs (10 testicular, 6 extragonadal) obtained from Pediatric Oncology Group-affiliated institutions or from the Cooperative Human Tissue Network were analyzed. The most common changes were gain of 20q (10 tumors), 1q (6 tumors), 11q and 22 (4 tumors each), and loss of 6q (8 tumors with common deleted region of 6q24-qter), 16q (4 tumors), and 1p (4 tumors). Localized regions of gain were identified at 8q24 (2 tumors both showing c-myc amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization). Gain of 12p, characteristic of adolescent germ cell tumor, was present in one testicular tumor. Comparative genomic hybridization was useful in defining genetic differences between adult and childhood tumors, in determining the common regions deleted on chromosome 6, and in identifying other involved loci to be correlated with clinical parameters in future studies.

Evaluation of the inferior vena cava by sonography and venography in children with renal and hepatic tumors

Ultrasonography was used to examine 81 children with intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal malignancies for tumor extension into the inferior vena cava (IVC). In seven of the 18 patients with Wilms tumors and three of the seven patients with hepatic tumors, the IVC ws sonographically abnormal. Venography was also performed in five patients with Wilms tumors. However, percutaneous transfemoral venacavography did not always allow differentiation between extrinsic compression and intracaval tumor. It is suggested that venacavography, when necessary, should be performed via the brachial vein route and that the catheter be advanced into the right atrium. If an injection in this chamber does not result in enough reflux into the retrohepatic IVC for adequate evaluation, the catheter should be advanced into the IVC and a second injection made. However, ultrasonography is the preferred modality for evaluation of the IVC in children because it is the most accurate method and is noninvasive. Real-time ultrasonography makes it possible to distinguish between tumor extension into the lumen of the IVC and extrinsic compression of the vessel.

Malignant retroperitoneal and abdominal germ cell tumors: an intergroup study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This randomized study examined survival (S) and event-free survival (EFS) rates using high-or standard-dose cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and surgical resection for this subset of germ cell tumors.

METHODS

Twenty-six of 317 patients enrolled on the POG 9049/COG 8882 intergroup study for malignant germ cell tumors had abdomen or retroperitoneum as the primary site. Twenty-five of 26 were eligible for inclusion (n = 25). Patients had biopsy or resection at diagnosis and randomization to chemotherapy including etoposide, bleomycin, and either standard-dose (PEB) or high-dose cisplatin (HDPEB). In patients with initial biopsy, delayed resection was planned.

RESULTS

Median age was 26 months. There were 14 girls and 11 boys. There were 3 stage I to II, 5 stage III, and 17 stage IV patients. Surgical management included primary resection in 5, resection after chemotherapy in 13, and biopsy or partial resection in 7 patients. Overall 6-year EFS rate was 82.8% +/- 10.9%, and 6-year survival rate was 87.6% +/- 9.3%. By group, 6-year survival rate was 90.0% +/- 11.6% for PEB and 85.7 +/- 14.5% for HDPEB. Deaths include one from sepsis, one from malignant tumor progression, and one from bulky disease caused by benign components despite response of the malignant elements to chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant germ cell tumors arising in the abdomen and retroperitoneum have an excellent prognosis despite advanced stage in most children. Aggressive resection need not be undertaken at diagnosis, but a concerted attempt at complete surgical removal after chemotherapy is important to distinguish viable tumor from necrotic tumor or benign elements that will not benefit from further chemotherapy.

The effect of cisplatin dose and surgical resection in children with malignant germ cell tumors at the sacrococcygeal region: a pediatric intergroup trial (POG 9049/CCG 8882)

PURPOSE

This study was designed to evaluate (1) the efficacy of standard or high-dose cisplatin with etoposide and bleomycin and (2) the role of surgical resection in infants and children with malignant germ cell tumors of the sacrococcygeal region (SCT).

METHODS

Seventy-four of 317 children presenting to Pediatric Oncology Group (POG)/Children's Cancer Group (CCG) institutions from 1990 through 1996 with malignant germ cell tumors had malignant SCT. There were 62 girls and 12 boys with a median age of 21 months (range, 3 days to 37 months) and median serum alpha-fetoprotein of 35,500 ng/mL. Twelve had undergone resection of a benign SCT as a newborn. Forty-four (59%) had evidence of metastatic disease at time of diagnosis. Presentation by type (Altman classification) was I, 0; II, 2; III, 30; and IV, 42. The initial procedure was biopsy in 45 and resection in 29. Patients were assigned randomly to receive 4 cycles of chemotherapy with etoposide (E) and bleomycin (B) and either high-dose cisplatin (200 mg/m(2) per cycle; HDP) or standard dose cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) per cycle; P). After completion of chemotherapy, 42 of 45 initially treated with biopsy underwent resection.

RESULTS

Overall 4-year survival rate is 90% (SE = 4%) and 4-year event-free survival (EFS) is 84% (SE = 6%). Event-free survival data for subgroups of interest are as follows: 4-yr EFS% (SE) P Values Mets (44) 88 (6).48 No Mets (30) 80 (8) HDP EB (37) 89 (6).21 P EB (37) 78 (7) Initial Resection (29) 90 (7).50 Delayed Resection (42) 83 (7) Complete Resection (49) 90 (5).19 CR/PR Partial Resection (22) 77 (10) Biopsy Only (3) 33 (27).005 (3 way)

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The current survival rate of malignant sacrococcygeal tumors is excellent even with metastases. (2) Delayed surgical resection is not associated with an adverse outcome. (3) In this subset the treatment comparison was inconclusive however, followed the trend in the overall study of more than 300 children in which the high-dose cisplatin group had superior EFS (P<.05).

Congenital primitive neuroectodermal tumor (neuroepithelioma) of the chest wall

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (neuroepithelioma) is a relatively common central nervous system tumor in children. Those arising from a peripheral nerve are extremely rare in childhood. There is only one reported case in 6-year-old where the tumor arose from the sciatic nerve. A case of neuroectodermal tumor of the chest wall, arising from the intercostal nerve, in a newborn is presented. The tumor metastasized to the brain. Prominent Homer-Wright rosettes, with central eosinophilic fibrillar substance similar to that seen in neuroepithelioma of the central nervous system, were present in the primary tumor and brain metastases. Ultrastructure, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy, is also described.

Thoracic neuroblastoma: what is the best imaging modality for evaluating extent of disease?

BACKGROUND

Thoracic neuroblastoma accounts for 15% of all cases of neuroblastoma. A minority of children with thoracic neuroblastoma will have dumbbell tumors, i.e., intraspinal extension, but only half these patients will have neurologic signs or symptoms.

HYPOTHESIS

MR imaging is the single best test to evaluate the extent of thoracic and spinal disease in thoracic neuroblastoma after the diagnosis of a mass is established on plain film.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective multi-institutional investigation over 7 years of all cases of thoracic neuroblastoma (n = 26) imaged with CT and/or MR were reviewed for detection of the extent of disease. The chest film, nuclear bone scan, and other imaging modalities were also reviewed. The surgical and histologic correlation in each case, as well as the patients' staging and outcome, were tabulated.

RESULTS

The chest radiograph was 100% sensitive in suggesting the diagnosis. MR imaging was 100% sensitive in predicting enlarged lymph nodes, intraspinal extension, and chest wall involvement. CT was 88% sensitive for intraspinal extension but only 20% sensitive for lymph node enlargement. CT was 100% sensitive in detecting chest wall involvement. Direct comparison of CT and MR imaging in six cases revealed no difference in detection of enlarged lymph nodes or chest wall involvement. Neither test was able to detect remote disease, as noted by bone scan.

CONCLUSION

The chest film is 100% sensitive in suggesting the diagnosis of thoracic neuroblastoma; MR imaging appears to be the single best test for detecting nodal involvement, intraspinal extension, and chest wall involvement.

DNA content of ovarian immature teratomas and malignant germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian germ cell tumors (GCT) show greater histologic and biologic heterogeneity than their testicular counterparts and remain poorly understood. Ploidy analysis was performed on ovarian GCT registered on Pediatric Oncology Group germ cell tumor protocols 9048 and 9049 to distinguish biologically distinct subsets of immature teratomas and malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

METHODS

Tumors from 22 patients (mean age 12 years) were analyzed and classified according to the submitting diagnosis; when pure samples of different histologic subtypes within a single tumor were possible, these were analyzed separately. Archival tissue was disaggregated and Feulgen stained; DNA index (DI) was determined by static image analysis utilizing internal normal cells as diploid controls.

RESULTS

26 histologic subtypes from 22 patients were analyzed. The tumors of 18 patients were composed of a single histologic subtype according to the submitting institution, including 6 dysgerminomas, 8 immature teratomas (IT), and 4 endodermal sinus tumors (EST). Two tumors contained both IT and EST components that were separately analyzed. Two tumors were classified as mixed germ cell tumors; 1 showed multiple intermingling subtypes unable to be separately analyzed and the second showed three histologic subtypes separately analyzed (IT, EST, embryonal carcinoma). From a total of 15 malignant histologic GCT subtypes in 14 patients, all but 2 demonstrated a DI of 1.4-2.4 (mean 1.85). Two diploid malignant GCT (1 EST, 1 dysgerminoma) were both associated with gonadoblastoma. Overall, 11 IT subtypes were analyzed and 9 were diploid (2 grade 1, 5 grade 2, and 2 grade 3). Two tumors originally submitted and classified as pure IT (grades 2 and 3) were aneuploid with a dominant diploid and a secondary aneuploid peak (both DI 1.7). On central review, both of these tumors demonstrated the presence of subtle patterns of EST that were unrecognized by the submitting institution and were much too small for separate analysis. Analysis of the 3 patients containing sufficient IT and EST to be separately analyzed all showed a diploid IT component and an aneuploid EST component.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of ploidy data suggests that polyploidization is a consistent finding in malignant ovarian GCT arising in normal patients, similar to the data for adult testicular GCT. Immature teratomas in this pediatric population, however, are most commonly diploid, regardless of grade. The development of EST within an IT is associated with the development of an aneuploid clone. Therefore, the finding of such a clone in an IT may be of diagnostic utility, as EST may be difficult to recognize. Last, the development of a malignant GCT in patients with gonadal dysgenesis may be pathogenetically different from those arising in normal patients, in that polyploidization is not required.

Wilms' tumor to the heart: clinical and radiographic evaluation

The clinical and radiographic appearances of four children with cardiac extension of Wilms' tumor and four cases from the literature are described. Four of the eight children were seen for "cardiac problems" and four for "routine" Wilms' tumor. In those "routine" cases, there were no clinical suggestions of inferior vena cava or cardiac extension. Preoperative screening for tumor extension may be crucial. However, because of the rarity of cardiac extension, it would be appropriate to screen patients by noninvasive methods such as gray scale ultrasound of the abdomen, echocardiography, or computed tomography before any invasive procedure is considered.

Familial T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma: association with Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis and Gardner syndrome

A family is described in which three of seven siblings developed a T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Tumor cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, lacked surface Ig, and expressed human T- but not B-lymphocyte antigens. They lacked the enzyme terminal transferase suggesting a lymph node rather than thymic T-cell origin. Autopsy findings supported this conclusion. All three sibs, like their father, had numerous cafe'-au'lait spots indicative of Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis. One child had a subcutaneous fibroma, and another had multiple colonic polyps and exostoses characteristic of Gardner syndrome. Both are autosomal dominant conditions known to predispose to malignancies. The genetic factors responsible for these conditions may also predispose to the development of "post-thymic" T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma and benign teratoma

A case of mediastinal embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma occurring with a benign teratoma is reported. In all histologic sections of tumor, the two elements were distinctly separate. This is felt to represent two independently developing tumors that ultimately fused to form a "collision tumor" rather than a sarcoma arising in a benign teratoma.