Sinais e sintomas associados à apresentação inicial do câncer pediátrico

Abstract

Objectives: identify the signs and symptoms most often associated with the diagnosis of cancer in children and adolescents, in their different topographies. Methods: We used a database of previously existing data. Data from 1203 patients, from zero to 19 years, enrolled in the Departments of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Governador João Alves Filho Hospital and Surgery Charitable Foundation from 1980 to 2004 were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Epi info program. Results: The time of onset of signs and / or symptoms did not exceed three months in 68.22% of patients. The topography was found over the abdominal. The most frequent symptom was the presence of tumor, followed by anemia and pain. The presence of symptoms was predominant in group sought treatment within three months. Tumor and neurological symptoms relate more with solid tumors; the rest of the symptoms is present in most hematological tumors. Anemia, pallor and bleeding predominated among nonwhites. Among patients who sought treatment within three months predominant hematological tumors, whereas among those who sought care after three months, the predominant solid tumors. Conclusion: Tumor or palpable mass, pallor / anemia and pain, with less than three months, were the most frequently identified clinical findings as the initial presentation of diagnosed cases of childhood cancer.