Diagnostic utility of routine chest radiography in the evaluation of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer

Background: Evaluation of febrile episodes in children who have become neutropenic during treatment for malignant disease has traditionally included in this study through screening tests for foci of infection and chest radiography. This study aimed to find out the diagnostic utility of routine chest radiography in the evaluation of febrile neutropenic in cancer children. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in Department of Pediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between January 2012 to September 2012. Total 60 patients, age 6-months to 15 years included in this study. 30 cases are febrile neutropenic and 30 patients are febrile non-neutropenic. Results: All children had fever in both groups. Rales found 43.3% and 16.7% in group I and group II respectively. In group I majority (43.3%) patients had consolidation on CXR and in group II all patients had pleural effusion on CXR. Rhonchi observed 36.0% and 16.7% in group I and group II respectively. Cyanosis found only in group I, which was 16.0%. Pharygitis and pleural rub was not found in both groups. The average no of children was found 1.57±0.63 in group I and 2.0±0.83 in group II. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05) between two groups. Conclusions: Most of the patients were ≤5 years age in both groups and male to female ratio was 1:1 in both groups.