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Fifteen-month-old male child, known to have a congenital bone marrow failure syndrome, presented in a state of shock with severe lactic acidosis following a brief episode of vomiting. Hospital stay was complicated by recurrent bouts of metabolic acidosis and progressive hepatic failure. Blood mitochondrial DNA sequencing revealed a large heteroplasmic 4,977 bp mitochondrial deletion (approximately 40% of all mitochondrial copies) suggestive of Pearson marrow-pancreas syndrome. By virtue of natural disease course, within a month of admission child succumbed to end-stage liver failure with multi-organ failure and died.

Background: Wilms Tumor (WT) is the most common pediatric kidney tumor, yet the disease has variable clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes across different populations. Objectives: This study aims to review the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of children with WT who have received treatment at Dubai Hospital, UAE. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving the medical records of confirmed WT children (aged < 14 years) who had received treatment between 2013 and 2018. Diagnosis should have been established based on the histopathological examination of operable tumors and needle biopsy for inoperable tumors. The Société Internationale d’Oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP) WT 2001 protocol was used for patient management, and the UMBRELLA SIOP–RTSG 2016 Wilms tumor pathology and molecular biology protocol was used for histopathologic classification and clinical staging. The presenting sign and symptoms, the findings of diagnostic imaging techniques, histological grading, the received treatments, and follow-up outcomes were collected and analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to carry out the survival analysis. Results: Ten children were diagnosed with WT (median age of 3.40 years, 60% males). All patients presented with abdominal masses without prominent pain. Synchronous bilateral lesions were found at diagnosis in one patient and metastatic lesions in three patients. Four children were discharged against medical advice; five received treatment according to the SIOP WT 2001 regimen, while the remaining patient was managed in the United States according to the National Wilms Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) protocol. The overall 6-year and relapse-free survival rates were 90% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics and managemental outcomes of children presenting with WT are promising, possibly owing to adopting the SIOP protocol. Considering the small sample size, more large-scale, nation-wide studies are warranted.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is characterized with thrombocytopenia and giant platelets; and various degrees of BSS can be caused by a number of homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of genes coding for components of the platelet receptor GPIbIX. Here we present a novel mutation occurring in a family causing BSS without any symptoms. Int J Clin Pediatr. 2020;9(1):16-19 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/ijcp342

Germline biallelic mutations in one of the mismatch repair genes, mutS homolog 2, mutS homolog 6, mutL homolog 1, or postmeiotic segregation increased 2, result in one of the most aggressive cancer syndromes in humans termed as constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). Individuals with CMMRD are affected with multiple tumors arising from multiple organs during childhood, and these individuals rarely reach adulthood without specific interventions. The most common tumors observed are central nervous system, hematological, and gastrointestinal malignancies. The incidence of CMMRD is expected to be high in low-resource settings due to a high rate of consanguinity in these regions, and it is thought to be underrecognized and consequently underdiagnosed. This position paper is therefore important to provide a summary of the current situation, and to highlight the necessity of increasing awareness, diagnostic criteria, and surveillance to improve survival for patients and family members.

We herein report a rare case of malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both an embryonal carcinoma (60%) and a yolk sac tumor (40%). A 7-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with persistent vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and vomiting. A CT scan of the pelvis and abdomen revealed a huge pelvic mass, 16 × 16 × 8 cm, arising from the left ovary and extending into the upper abdomen and displacing bowel loops to the sides. The mass was lobulated and heterogeneously enhancing. Initial investi­gations revealed raised values of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). She underwent a laparotomy and a left salphingo-oophorectomy. Histopathology of the excised mass revealed a malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both an embryonal carcinoma (60%) and a yolk sac tumor (40%). Following surgery, she was started on adjuvant chemotherapy based on the MAKEI 96 protocol and was given 4 cycles of PEI chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide). Multidisciplinary team management consisting of careful initial surgery with adequate staging biopsies followed by combination chemotherapy and endocrinological evaluation and treatment can greatly improve the prognosis of these patients.

Germline biallelic mutations in one of the mismatch repair genes (MSH2/MSH6/MLH1/PMS2 results in constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD), a condition associated with multiple tumors arising from multiple organs during childhood, and these individuals rarely reach adulthood. The paucity of information with respect to these conditions leads to mismanagement and may be a factor in the high mortality of patients with CMMRD. Two international consortia, the European CARE4CMMRD, and the international replication repair deficiency (RRD) consortium, are addressing the many challenges associated with this condition. To address specific issues surrounding the management of CMMRD in low and middle income countries (LMIC), a multidisciplinary taskforce of 11 specialists from nine countries was formed. Preliminary conclusions are: 1) Immunohistochemistry for CMMRD should be considered for all patients with suggestive clinical features. In countries where CMMRD is common, malignant gliomas, colon cancers and T cell lymphomas should be stained routinely as the prevalence of CMMRD in these tumors can exceed 40%. 2) Temozolomide should not be used in the management of malignant glioma. By contrast, preclinical studies have suggested increased sensitivity to nitrosoureas. For the management of CMMRD related lymphoma and leukemia, mercaptopurines should not be avoided or discontinued as a part of the standard of care before more data are collected. 3) Management with checkpoint inhibitors should be limited to centers with intensive care units and expertise in complex supportive care to manage side effects of immune therapy. 4) Surveillance protocols have demonstrated long term survival benefits and should be implemented in LMIC.

We report on a 10-year-old Emirati child with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who developed severe mucositis and psychosis while taking levetiracetam. The child was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on 9 May 2014 and was started on chemotherapy in accordance with the ALL-BFM 95 protocol. During induction chemotherapy, he developed seizures thought to be due to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and after neurology consultation, he was started on levetiracetam. He developed severe mucositis and psychosis while on levetiracetam, which was resolved by discontinuing treatment with this medication. Levetiracetam has been used to treat seizures in children with cancer because of its low reported side effects and compatibility with chemotherapy. Severe mucositis and psychosis are two serious complications associated with levetiracetam. This is the first reported case in the literature of an Emirati child with leukaemia developing severe mucositis and psychosis when taking levetiracetam.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder characterized by proliferation and accumulation of clonal dendritic cells with varied clinical presentation and an unpredictable course. We report a 5-month-old infant with LCH who presented with severe respiratory distress, a large mediastinal mass, significant generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Lymphoma, especially T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, can present with superior mediastinal syndrome needing urgent empirical therapy without biopsy. However, lack of response prompted a biopsy which confirmed it to be a case of LCH and that leads to appropriate therapy and survival. There have been reports of LCH presenting with isolated mediastinal mass or with generalized lymphadenopathy, but the combined presentation of generalized lymphadenopathy with large mediastinal mass, hepatosplenomegaly, and fever in an infant has rarely been reported.Conclusion. LCH should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of an infant presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy, mediastinal mass, hepatosplenomegaly, and fever.

We report the case of a girl with multi-focal hepatoblastoma in whom chemotherapy alone has resulted in long term event-free survival and possibly cure, without any surgical procedure apart from biopsy for initial diagnosis. At presentation she had a large tumour arising from the left lobe of liver and two other separate masses were noted in the right lobe, but the lungs were free of metastases. Histology showed a foetal type of hepatoblastoma. The serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) level was 44,000 iu/litre. Chemotherapy was started using the triple drug regime recommended for "high risk" (of relapse) patients in the SIOPEL 2 hepatoblastoma protocol of the International Society of Paedaitric Oncology (SIOP). Within a few weeks her abdominal girth decreased, the child became much more comfortable. Drug-induced cardiotoxicity, ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity were not observed. After a total of 4 courses of chemotherapy (completed at the end of August 1998) a CT scan showed that all 3 tumours were smaller but that there were residual multifocal defects in the liver neither hepatic resection nor liver transplantation were considered safe or appropriate. 6.5 years after completion of chemotherapy and now aged 8.5 years the child is in normal health and at school with normal liver size, serum AFP levels and chest imaging.