title: Audit of pediatric hematology-oncology outpatients in Kuala Lumpur.
abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the types of cancers and hematological disorders in patients attending a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic. This was a prospective study at the Pediatric Institute, General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from June 2005-November 2006. During the 18-month study, 803 patients attended the clinic, 730 had oncological problems and 73 had hematological problems. The age range was from 2 months to 28 years (median 6 years). The patients were Malay (66%), Chinese (23%), Indian (10%) and other races (1%). Of the oncological patients, 51% had either leukemia (n=293) or lymphoma (n=77). The other most common diagnoses were retinoblastoma, followed by Wilm's tumor and germ cell tumors. Six patients (0.8%) developed a second malignant neoplasm. Of the hematological patients, 60% had platelet disorders, most commonly chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Twenty-four per cent had bone marrow failure and 16% had red cell disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pahang, 50586 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drmenon2003@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bina Sharine
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Eni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Juraida
authors.forename: Hishamshah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Mahfuzah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khuzaiah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult