Frequency of Bone Marrow Infiltration By Non Haematopoitic Small Round Blue Cell Tumors In The Paediatric Population

Bone Marrow Infiltration in Pediatric Small Blue Cell Tumors

Abstract

Background: Bone marrow metastasis (BMM) of non-hematopoietic small round blue cell tumors poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in pediatric oncology. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of bone marrow infiltration by non-hematopoietic round blue cell tumors in a pediatric population, excluding lymphomas. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study. Settings: Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Child Health Sciences and Children Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. Duration: Two-year period from October 2021 to October 2023. Methods: A total of 198 diagnosed cases of small round blue cell tumors, aged newborn to 16 years, were included. Data were collected on clinical findings, imaging results, and hematological parameters. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsies were performed, followed by histological examination and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The study analyzed 198 pediatric patients with small round blue cell tumors, revealing that neuroblastoma was the most prevalent, comprising 90 cases with a 22.2% rate of positive bone marrow infiltration. Clinical findings indicated fever (75.8%) and pallor (65.7%) as common symptoms. Hematological parameters showed mean hemoglobin levels of 9.5 ± 1.5 g/dL, with neuroblastoma patients exhibiting the lowest levels at 8.5 ± 1.0 g/dL. CD56 positivity was observed in 66.7% of cases, mainly in neuroblastoma, emphasizing the role of histopathological evaluation in diagnosis and management. Conclusion: Early detection of bone marrow metastasis in non-hematopoietic small round blue cell tumors is vital for appropriate treatment planning.