| Child Cancer Survivors at Increased Risk of Bowel Obstruction - Renal and Urology News |
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August 19, 2015
 Survivors of childhood cancer, especially those with abdominopelvic tumors, have higher long-term risk of bowel obstruction. (HealthDay News) -- Survivors of childhood cancer have an increased long-term risk of intestinal obstruction requiring surgery (IOS), according to a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Arin L. Madenci, M.D., M.P.H., from Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues assessed IOS occurring 5 or more years after cancer diagnosis. Data were included for 12,316 five-year survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (2,002 with and 10,314 without abdominopelvic tumors) and 4,023 sibling participants. The researchers found that 165 survivors (median age at IOS, 19 years; median time from diagnosis, 13 years) and 14 siblings reported late IOS. At 35 years, the cumulative incidence of late IOS was 5.8, 1.0, and 0.3% among survivors with abdominopelvic tumors, survivors without abdominopelvic tumors, and siblings, respectively. After adjustment for confounding variables, the rate of late IOS was increased with abdominopelvic tumor (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 3.6; P < 0.001) and abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy within 5 years of cancer diagnosis (aRR, 2.4; P < 0.001). After adjustment for the same variables, developing late IOS correlated with increased subsequent mortality among survivors (aRR, 1.8: P = 0.016). "The long-term risk of IOS and its association with subsequent mortality underscore the need to promote awareness of this complication among patients and providers," the authors write. Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Source |