Scleroderma in a child after chemotherapy for cancer

S. Emir¹, T. Kutluk¹, R. Topaloÿglu², A. Bakkaloÿglu², M. Büyükpamukçu¹

¹Department of Pediatric Oncology, ²Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

ABSTRACT
The association of malignancy with scleroderma is very rare in childhood. A 13-year-old girl was diagnosed as having thymic carcinoma and received systemic chemotherapy. She presented with symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon 9 months after the cessation of chemotherapy. She also had difficulty in swallowing. Based on the presence of RaynaudÕs phenomenon, characteristic skin changes over the face and hands, oesophageal involvement and pulmonary restrictive defect demonstrated by pulmonary function tests, the diagnosis of generalised scleroderma was established. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence. Although she was treated with penicillamine and prednisolone, no significant improvement was achieved in her condition during the 14-month follow up. 

Key words
Scleroderma, cancer, chemotherapy, children.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Tezer Kutluk, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, 06100 Ankara, Turkey.
E-mail: tk06-k@tr.net

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2001; 19: 221-223.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2001.