Anthropometric measurements at diagnosis of childhood cancer

Height, weight, upper-arm circumference, sitting height, armspan, and head circumference were measured in 96 patients at diagnosis of a childhood malignancy. Height of both parents could be measured in 60 cases. Some individuals with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were very tall and some patients with a brain tumor were very small. In contrast, the mean values for height, sitting height, and midparent height were normal in all four groups of patients (with leukemia, solid tumor, brain tumors, and remaining malignancies). Armspan, however, was significantly longer in leukemia and solid tumor patients in comparison with healthy peers. These finding are not considered enough evidence for the existence of an association between tallness and childhood malignancy. Weight (for height) was significantly lower in solid tumor patients than in leukemia patients.