[Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Norway 1992-2000].
BACKGROUND
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in childhood. The survival rate has increased steadily over the last 40 years.


METHODS
All children aged 0-15 years and diagnosed in Norway in the period 1992-2000, were included in the study (n = 301). The patients were followed up until 1.1. 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis was made in 301 children, 33 new cases per year (range 24 to 40) on average. The peak incidence was between 2 and 5 years. Four of 6 infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and all 4 with mature B-cell leukemia are alive. Two of the remaining 291 children died before treatment was started. 289 were all treated according to the common Nordic NOPHO-ALL 1992 protocol. All children achieved remission (99.7%), except for one who died before remission was achieved. 55 children (19%) relapsed. Radiation to the brain as part of central nervous system prophylaxis was given to just 10% of the children. The 10-year event-free survival (p-EFS) was 76%, and 244 of 289 (84%) were alive 4-13 years after the diagnosis was made. The data are comparable with the best international results.
Kolmannskog
Svein
S
Barne- og ungdomsklinikken, Institutt for laboratoriemedisin, barne- og kvinnesykdommer, St. Olavs Hospital, 7006 Trondheim. svein.kolmannskog@ntnu.no
Flaegstad
Trond
T
Helgestad
Jon
J
Hellebostad
Marit
M
Zeller
Bernward
B
Glomstein
Anders
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome