Almost one-fourth had fractures: bone health poor in young adult survivors of pediatric solid tumors.(Gynecology)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Half of young adult survivors of pediatric solid cancers had low bone mineral density and nearly a fourth had suffered at least one fracture since completion of their treatment, according to a cross-sectional study conducted at the State University of New York-Syracuse Health Sciences Center.

"Young adult survivors of pediatric solid tumors appear to be at increased risk of developing at least regional osteopenia or osteoporosis," concluded Dr. Timothy A. Damron, professor of orthopedic surgery at the university.

Dr. Damron and associates reported on the first 38 patients enrolled in a follow-up study of pediatric cancer survivors.

Some survivors of childhood cancers are known to be at risk for low bone mineral density (BMD), including those who had brain tumors, acute lymphocytic leukemia, cranial radiation, or nonautologous bone marrow transplantation. "Less well established is the risk among survivors of solid pediatric cancers," he said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The first patients in the registry include 17 survivors of lymphoma, 8 survivors of sarcoma, 5 survivors of Wilm's tumor, 4 survivors of neuroblastoma, and 1 survivor each of ovarian germ cell tumor, yolk sac carcinoma. Triton tumor, and hepatoblastoma.

The mean age of the subjects at follow-up was 22, and they were first diagnosed with cancer at a mean age of 8.9 years. Thirty-six patients had received chemotherapy, 13 in combination with radiation therapy. Two had only radiation therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The ...