PHYSICAL GROWTH-PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN TREATED FOR MALIGNANT DISEASES

Physical growth (height and foot size) were measured in 251 boys and 2 25 girls with a history of childhood malignancy. The children were see n in the outpatient pediatric clinics of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center f or oncologic treatment or followup. The height of the children overall was well within the range of normal sex- and age-adjusted values as w ere the measurements for the growth of their feet. In addition, measur ements were obtained for 16 children followed in the pediatric endocri ne clinic for treatment of growth hormone deficiency associated with p rior cranial irradiation. Among children with growth hormone deficienc y, measurements for both height and foot size were in the lower half o f the normal range when adjusted for chronologic age (but were average if adjusted for bone age). There was good correlation between height and foot size in all cases. We suggest that foot size is an easily obt ainable and useful adjunct measurement that can be incorporated into s urveillance strategies to detect potential growth disorders. In genera l, children with malignant diseases grow normally, and thus persistent deviations from normal growth should not be attributed to the maligna ncy itself. Rather, suspicion of a coexisting metabolic dysfunction sh ould be raised and appropriate evaluation instituted.