Neoplasms of infancy and childhood Dr. Abdul Haseeb Khan Associate Professor
Neoplasms of infancy and childhood Benign>malignant Incidence of malignancy:1-15 yrs - 1.3 /10,000 /year. Most malignant tumours in children arise from hematopoietic, nervous and soft tissues
Difference between adult & Paed tumours Association between abnormal development (teratogenesis) & tumour induction. Prevalence of constitutional genetic abnormalities or syndromes that predispose to cancer Tendency of malignancy to undergo differentiation Improved survival
Benign tumours Hemangiomas “port wine stain” Lymphangiomas (cystic hygroma) Sacrococcygeal teratoma Naevi
Sacrococcygeal teratomas Germ cell neoplasm 1:40,000 live births Mass in the sacrum and buttocks Composed of elements of > 1 germ cell layer.mixture of elements. Neural origin determines the behaviour < 2 months-benign.
Neuroblastoma Embryonal malignant tumour Neural crest origin Neoplastic neuroblasts Site: adrenal medulla &sympathetic ganglia 7-10% of solid paediatric malignancies. Sporadic occurance. Rarely familial (bilateral,multifocal)
Pathology of neuroblastoma Site :Paravertebral, Posterior mediastinum, abdomen ,Adrenal 1/3 Gross appearance: Nodular, of varying size May be encapsulated or infiltrative Cut section: grey-tan, soft and friable Varigated,necrosis,hemorrhage, calcificaton,cystic change
Gross appearence of Neuroblastoma.
Microscopy of neuroblastoma Sheets of small,round,blue cells with dark nuclei,scant cytoplasm,indistinct borders. Mitosis++, Karyorrhectic debris + Pleomorphism +/- Homer-Wright rosettes, Neuropil. Maturation: Schwann cell, stroma &ganglion cell differentiation
Microscopy of neuroblastoma
Clinical features Abdominal mass, fever Blueberry muffin Wide metastasis Secrete catecholamines Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)/Homovanillic acid (HVA) screening.
Prognosis Stage spread to regional lymph nodes,liver,lungs,bones etc Age :< 1 yr. Morphology –gangliocytic differentiation better MYCN (N myc) gene amplification-worse
Retinoblastoma Malignant tumour of the eye in childhood Neuroepithelial origin –posterior retina Familial,- 60-70%, associated with germ line mutation, heritable. Sporadic:30-40%,somatic gene mutation. Associated with Rb 1 gene Secondary malignancy –osteosarcoma
RB gene RB gene is on chromosome 13 RB gene function is the most critical checkpoint in the cell cycle and allows the cell to enter from G1 to S Tumour supressor gene If both RB genes are abnormal i.e. mutated or have a missing allele, it permits unregulated cell proliferation. Knudson’s two-hit hypothesis People with RB mutations are susceptibe to malignancies especially osteosarcoma
Morphology of retinoblastoma
Morphology of retinoblastoma Gross: occular masses. Microscopy: Sheets of small,round,blue cells with dark nuclei,scant cytoplasm,indistinct borders Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes.
Behaviour Spread through optic nerve or to subarachnoid space to CNS, bone, lymph nodes. Cure with treatment Spontaneous cure Second malignancy
Wilms’ tumour (Nephroblastoma) Malignant neoplasm of embryonal nephrogenic elements Composed of embryonal elements Prevalence :1:10,000 2-5 yrs Good prognosis Associated with congenital malformations Tumour resembles developing kidney
Associated syndromes WAGR –Wilms tumour, Aniridia, Genitourinary anomalies,mental Retardation WT 1 gene Denys-Drash syndrome: Wilms tumour,intersexual disorders,glomerulopathy. WT1 gene Beckwith –Wiedemann syndrome(BWS) :Wilms tumour, overgrowth, visceromegaly,macroglossia. WT2
Cut surface :bulging,pale tan
Histopathology of Wilms tumour Components of Wilms tumour (triphasic) Blastema Immature epithelial- abortive tubules ,glomeruli Immature stroma (mesenchymal)
Clinical features 1-3 yrs Unilateral (sporadic),bilateral (familial) Large abdominal mass Hematuria Pain abdomen Hypertension Intestinal obstruction Pulmonary metastasis