Warnsignale für Krebserkrankungen im Kindesalter

A detailed history and physical examination combined with vigerous differential diagnostic thinking in pediatric practice and emergency department impacts on treatment and prognosis of children and adolescents with cancer. The prognostic relevance is based on the fact, that many childhood tumors progress rapidly and advanced stages are associated with higher relapse risk, increased side effects and late complications due to intensified treatment. The most frequent warning signs are bone pain, pale complexion, fever, headaches and vomiting as well as swelling of soft tissue and lymph nodes. In addition, in the case of atypical symptom constellations a malignant cause must be considered at an early stage. The skill is to find the rare but serious differential diagnoses among the frequent seemingly banal symptoms. Here, the “Schwabing rules” provide some guidance.