Somnolence syndrome and fever in pediatric patients with cranial irradiation.
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.
Vern
Tamara Z
TZ
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Keyser Family Pediatric Cancer Center, Hope Children's Hospital, Advocate Christ Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA.
Salvi
Sharad
S
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