Abdominal complications of chemotherapy in pediatric malignancies: imaging findings

ObjectiveTo describe the imaging findings of abdominal complications caused by chemotherapy in pediatric cancer patients.Subjects and MethodsRadiology studies of 243 patients treated in our Children Cancer Center were reviewed, 164 of whom had abdominal studies. Medical records of 54 patients with abnormal imaging findings were studied.ResultsUltrasound and/or CT findings showed the following complications: (1) gallbladder sludge/crystals (n=13), gallstones (n=8), cholecystitis (n=3); (2) liver steatosis (n=23), siderosis (n=1), veno-occlusive disease (n=2); (3) pancreatitis (n=7); (4) typhlitis (n=12), esophagitis (n=2).ConclusionAwareness of these complications is essential for appropriate management, decreasing their mortality and morbidity.