Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Splenectomy In Children: A Case Report with Literature Review
Published on: March 27, 2026
Thromboembolism in children with lymphoma
Uma H Athale1, Kim Nagel, Anees A Khan
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. athaleu@mcmaster.ca
Insights
Thrombosis is a frequent complication in pediatric lymphoma patients, affecting 12% of those studied. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy significantly increased thrombosis risk, highlighting the need for further research into pediatric cancer-related thrombosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Thromboembolism is a significant concern in pediatric cancer.
- The specific epidemiology and risk factors for thrombosis in children with lymphoma remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the epidemiology of thrombosis in children diagnosed with lymphoma.
- To identify risk factors associated with thrombosis in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 75 children (<18 years) diagnosed with lymphoma between January 1990 and December 2004.
- Analysis of thrombotic events, including type, location, and association with central venous lines.
Main Results:
- 12% of patients (9 out of 75) experienced 16 thrombotic events; 75% were venous thrombosis, often linked to central venous lines.
- Patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy had a significantly higher incidence of thrombosis (17.6%) compared to those without (0%).
- Recurrent clots and post-thrombotic syndrome were observed in 44% and 33.3% of affected patients, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Thrombosis is a common and morbid complication in pediatric lymphoma, with a high recurrence rate.
- Mediastinal mass is a significant risk factor for thrombosis in children with lymphoma.
- Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and identify high-risk children.
Purpose:
Cancer is a major underlying disease in children with thromboembolism. However, the epidemiology of thrombosis in children with cancer is largely unknown. We undertook the following study to define the epidemiology and to identify the risk factors predisposing children with lymphoma to thrombosis.
Patients And Methods:
We reviewed the medical records of 75 children (<18 years of age) diagnosed with lymphoma from January 1990-December 2004.
Results:
Nine of 75 patients (12%, 95% CI; 5.6-21.6%) were diagnosed with a total of 16 thrombotic events. Twelve of 16 (75%) events were venous thrombosis; 11 were related to the central venous line. The prevalence of pulmonary embolism was 2.6%. Nine of 51 (17.6%) patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy developed thrombosis compared to none of 21 patients without mediastinal lymphadenopathy (Z=3.31, p=0.001, 95%CI; 7.2-28.1%). Older children and children with advanced stage disease were at higher, but statistically non-significant risk of thrombosis. There was no effect of gender, lymphoma type, or B-symptoms on the occurrence of thrombosis. Four of 9 patients (44%) experienced recurrent clots and 3 (33.3%) patients had post-thrombotic syndrome. Children with thrombosis had a higher rate of adverse events compared to those without thrombosis (41% vs. 21.2%, p=0.126).
Conclusion:
Thrombosis is a frequent complication in children with lymphoma with over a 40% recurrence rate and significant morbidity. Children with a mediastinal mass were at significantly increased risk of thrombosis. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and to identify children at an increased risk for the development of thrombosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pulmonary Embolism III: Nursing Management
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
01:30Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:29Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
01:19Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction