Arm anthropometry in evaluation of malnutrition in children with cancer

Malnutrition in children with cancer is reported to be relatively uncommon at the time of diagnosis. However, in most studies nutritional status measu rement has relied almost exclusively on weight-related indices. This can be misleading, because in children with malignancy, tumor masses can reach mo re than 10 % of total body weight. A controlled study was performed in 62 p atients using arm anthropometry to provide a more accurate evaluation of th e nutritional status of children, with cancer at presentation. Height, weig ht, midupper arm circumference (MUAC), and triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT ) were measured in all patients (40 boys, 22 girls) and controls (18 boys, 13 girls). Weight for height (WFH) of each patient was compared with the na tional standards. MUAC and TSFT were also interpreted according to the stan dards developed by A. Roberto Frisancho. The mean ages were 6.5 +/- 3. 7 ye ars (range 0.08-13) and 57 +/- 4.7 gears (range 0.25-15) in patients and co ntrol group, respectively. Results showed that although the WFH values for patients were normal, MUAC and TSFT values were significantly less than con trol values (P < 0.001). Moreover, 27% of patients showed malnutrition (the r had MUAC and TSFT below 5th percentile). Patients with intraabdominal sol id tumors had significantly lower MUAC and TSFT values than those with extr aabdominal solid tumors (P < 0.05). The data strongly indicate that malnutr ition is common at the time of diagnosis in children with cancer, and arm a nthropometry should replace the use of weight-related indices to identify m alnutrition in children.