INTRODUCTIONGranulomatous cervicofacial lymphadenitis (GCL) is not uncommon in children. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) seem to be the predominant cause. We sought to study the clinical and microbiological profile of patients with GCL, and identify features that may impact outcome.

METHODSChildren aged < 16 years who presented to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, between January 1998 and December 2006, and who had GCL were identified from laboratory records. Clinical and laboratory data was collected and analysed for risk factors for patients with positive lymph node cultures, and for patients with and without recurrence after treatment.

RESULTSIn all, 60 children were identified, with a median age of 56 (interquartile range [IQR] 34-101) months. Median duration of symptoms before presentation was 5 (IQR 4-8) weeks. The majority presented with single (73.3%) or unilateral (96.7%) lymphadenopathy, located in the submandibular, preauricular/parotid or infra-/post-auricular region (76.7%). Out of 51 patients, 26 (51.0%) had a tuberculin skin test reading of ≥ 10 mm. Out of 52 patients, 10 (19.2%) had positive mycobacterial cultures, which included seven isolates of NTM. Out of 34 cases, tuberculous polymerase chain reaction was positive in 11 (32.4%). With regard to recurrence after initial treatment, age < 5 years at presentation was found to be a predictor for recurrence (p = 0.008), while initial complete excision of affected nodes predicted no recurrence (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONIn our study, younger age was noted to be associated with a higher chance of recurrence, while complete excision of the involved node at initial presentation predicted non-recurrence.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphadenitis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Lymphatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculin Test

Objective: To investigate the immunohistochemical staining of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK; clone 1A4) in pediatric medulloblastoma (MB). Methods: Molecular subtyping was performed based on the NanoString and sequencing techniques for 44 pediatric MB cases at Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from 2014 to 2017. ALK expression was detected with EnVision immunhistochemistry using ALK clone 1A4 on whole section. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation of protein expression with molecular subgroups. Results: The age ranged from 0.5 to 13.0 years with an average age of 5.8 years. There were 28 males and 16 females, and 31 classic, 5 desmoplastic nodular, 3 extensive nodular and 5 large cell/anaplastic MBs. Except three cases was unable classified, 41 MBs were classified into the four molecular groups: 5 in WNT group, 12 in SHH group, 9 in Group 3 and 15 in Group 4. Thirteen of 44 MB cases were positive staining for ALK, and the positive rate was 29.5%. Six cases were strong reaction, and 7 cases were weak. The expression of ALK at the protein level was associated with the WNT group (P<0.01). The characteristic perinuclear dot-like staining was only showed in WNT group. Conclusions The ALK immunhistochemistry using antibody clone 1A4 is a useful marker for the molecular subgroup detection of MB. The strong staining and perinuclear dot-like staining indicate as WNT group.