All issues > Volume 51(8); 2008

Review Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2008;51(8):792-796. Published online August 15, 2008.

Malignancies in children who present with bone pain

Jun Ah JA Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jun Ah JA Lee ,Email: junahlee@kcch.re.kr

Abstract

Bone pain in a child could be associated with cancer as an initial manifestation of the disease. The childhood malignancies that frequently present bone pain are leukemia, neuroblastoma, and primary bone tumors such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Persistent bone or joint pain associated with swelling, mass, or limitation of motion implies underlying serious causes. Systemic manifestations such as lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, fever, fatigue, night sweat, and laboratory abnormalities are also suggestive of malignancy. The index of suspicion tends to be low since less than 1% of children who complain of bone pain are diagnosed as cancer. Nonetheless, pediatricians should be alert to the possibilities of cancer since early detection and prompt treatment might reduce mortality.

Keywords :Bone pain, Malignancy, Children