[Rheumatological symptoms masking neoplasm in children].
Fevers, arthritis, myalgia and skin changes are the most typical features of rheumatic diseases, although one should remember that the same symptoms could mask neoplasm. This study shows that some patients with rheumatological symptoms treated in the Department of Lung Diseases and Children Rheumatology, Medical University of Lublin were finally diagnosed with neoplasm. In focus is the initial phase of the patients' illnesses.


METHODS
We analyzed retrospectively the case histories of all patients admitted to the department between 1997 and 2005 (1560 hospitalizations). An oncological disease was diagnosed in 9 cases: leukemia in 4 children (acute lymphoblastic leukemia-ALL- in 3 cases, acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia-ANLL- in 1 case), Hodgkin's disease in 1 child, bone tumours in 2 children, liver tumour in 1 child and a tumour of the central nervous system in 1 child.


CONCLUSIONS
The cases described should draw the physicians' attention to the fact that in the initial phase an oncological disease may be masked by rheumatological symptoms.
Postepski
Jacek
J
Department of Lung Diseases and Children Rheumatology, Medical University of Lublin. jacek.postepski@op.pl
Majcher
Agnieszka
A
Opoka-Winiarska
Violetta
V
Stefaniak
Jolanta
J
Kostrzewa
Małgorzata
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography