What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine differences in invasive aspergillosis between pediatric and adult cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

January 14, 2026Open Access

Pediatric vs. Adult Invasive Aspergillosis in Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients: Insights from a Matched Cohort at a Tertiary Cancer Center

Key Points

To examine differences in invasive aspergillosis between pediatric and adult cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.
Retrospective review of invasive aspergillosis cases at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1993 to 2024.
Matched 34 pediatric patients with 102 adult patients by diagnosis year, cancer type, and HCT history.
Analyzed patterns of diagnosis, antifungal prophylaxis, and treatment outcomes.
Neutropenia at diagnosis was more common in children (p=0.04).
Children received less mold-active azoles, with a higher percentage receiving echinocandins (34% vs 8%, p<0.001).
Extrapulmonary invasive aspergillosis was more prevalent in children, with 68% vs. 89% pulmonary cases in adults (p=0.003).
At 12 weeks, all-cause mortality was 47% in children and 37% in adults; IA-attributable mortality was 38% vs. 25%, but not statistically significant.

Abstract

Abstract Background Invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains the most common invasive mold infection in pediatric and adult patients with cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT), leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Differences in IA presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes between children and adults have been proposed, but most clinical guidelines are based on adult data. Generating pediatric-specific evidence and conducting direct comparisons with adult IA are critical to informing tailored strategies for children. Methods We retrospectively reviewed proven and probable IA cases diagnosed at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1993 to 2024. 34 pediatric patients (≤18 years) were matched 1:3 with 102 adult patients by diagnosis year (±1), cancer type (hematologic malignancy vs. solid tumor), and history of HCT within one year. Adults were selected using simple random sampling. Results Neutropenia at diagnosis was more frequent among children (p= 0.04). Patterns of antifungal prophylaxis differed notably, with less children receiving a mold-active azole at the time of IA, and a higher percentage receiving an echinocandin (34% vs 8% for adults, p 0.001). Extrapulmonary IA was more common in children, with 89% of adults having pulmonary IA vs. 68% of children (p=0.003). Serum galactomannan was more commonly positive in children (p=0.027), while bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan was more frequently positive in adults (p=0.003). Among culture-confirmed cases, A. flavus was most commonly isolated in children, followed by A. fumigatus, though species distribution overall did not differ significantly. Pediatric patients were more often treated with monotherapy. When it comes to outcomes, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation rates were comparable between groups. At 12 weeks, both all-cause (47% vs. 37%) and IA-attributable mortality (38% vs. 25%) were higher in the pediatric group, though these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion IA continues to cause high morbidity and mortality in pediatric cancer and HCT patients. Our findings reveal distinct clinical, diagnostic, and treatment patterns in children compared to adults, underscoring the need for pediatric-specific IA management guidelines. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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