title: Somnolence syndrome and fever in pediatric patients with cranial irradiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During initial treatments, pediatric cancer patients are frequently hospitalized for fever, which may be due to neutropenia or a manifestation of the somnolence syndrome (SS) after cranial radiation therapy (CRT). This was a retrospective chart review of patients who received CRT for central nervous system prophylaxis or treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 21 patients, 15 (71%) developed SS; 10 were hospitalized for fever. Comparing somnolent and nonsomnolent patients, there was no statistically significant difference in the admission absolute neutrophil count; radiation dose, fraction, or duration; and time between completion of CRT and first hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In postradiation phase, patients with SS are more likely to get fever leading to hospital admission regardless of ANC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Keyser Family Pediatric Cancer Center, Hope Children's Hospital, Advocate Christ Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Vern
authors.forename: Sharad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008223:Lymphoma; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult