Bone Abstracts

Objective: Assessment of bone mineral density in children completing therapy for lymphoma.

Methods: Thirty-five children treated for childhood Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of Medical University of Bialystok in Poland were included. Patients were scanned with DXA at two time points: 1st – up to 5 years and 2nd – above 5 years after the completion of the treatment. Bone mineral density (total (TBMD) and spine (BMDS)) were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results were compared to age- and sex-matched references ranges and expressed as a Z-score for bone mineral density according to both the local reference population and manufacture’s database. Statistical analysis were performed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs ranks test. A P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Median time interval from the completion of the treatment to the beginning of the study was 3.4 years (1.6, 4.5) for 1st group and 7.1 (6.4, 8.9) for 2nd group. We did not find any significant difference between analyzed patients for TBMD and BMDS Z-scores (P=0.702, P=0.093 respectively). Low bone mass (defined as a Z-score ≤−2) was observed in two children in the 1st group (5.7%) and three children in the 2nd group (8.6%).

Conclusion: In this study, time interval from the completion of the treatment did not influence on bone mineral density. Overall, pediatric lymphoma survivors had negligible bone mineral density deficits.