title: Bony presentations of childhood haematological malignancy to the emergency room.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bony complaints are well-recognised symptoms of childhood haematological malignancy. However, this elusive symptom complex of haematological malignancy is not easily recognised in the emergency room (ER) where musculoskeletal problems are frequent. This study reviews bony complaints of childhood haematological malignancy in the ER.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of 148 children diagnosed with haematological malignancy between March 2002 and February 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one cases (14.2%) presented with bony complaints to the ER within 3 months prior diagnosis of malignancy. The median age was 5.1 years, and majority (90.5%) had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Fifteen cases were undiagnosed for malignancy at first visit; diagnoses included pulled elbow, lower limb sprain and septic arthritis, with 21 days median time to correct diagnosis. In this undiagnosed group, history of trauma, fever, multiple bony site involvement, normal radiography and blood counts were common. Undiagnosed cases were referred to orthopaedics, paediatrics, rheumatology or the general practitioner, hospitalised or discharged without follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of childhood haematological malignancy with first bony presentation to the ER was challenging, with a high prevalence of 71.4% undiagnosed cases at first visit. We highlight the common misdiagnoses because failure to correctly diagnose could delay timely institution of treatment. Trauma or normal investigations do not exclude an underlying haematological malignancy. This rare diagnosis in the ER should always be considered when challenged with recurrent bony complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Haematology Oncology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. pault1@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Wan-Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Mei-Yoke
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kee-Chong
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Ah-Moy
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology