title: Esophageal strictures during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Esophageal stricture is a rare complication of paediatric cancer treatment that usually occurs after esophageal exposure to radiotherapy. We describe 4 cases of esophageal stricture during chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All patients presented with refractory vomiting and were diagnosed with radiologic contrast studies. None of the patients had received radiotherapy. Esophageal candidiasis was seen in 2 patients but the remaining 2 patients had earlier systemic candidiasis. High-dose dexamethasone may predispose these children to both esophageal candidiasis and peptic esophagitis. The etiology of esophageal strictures during treatment for acute leukemia is likely to be multifactorial but systemic candidiasis may play a significant role.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Haematology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. kevrkelly77@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O' Sullivan
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corbally
authors.forename: Corrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Owen P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Aengus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O' Marcaigh
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone