Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study

Mehtap Ertekin; Zühal Önder Siviş; Burcak Tatlı Güneş; Esin Özcan; Salih Gözmen

Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study

Abstract

Aims: Childhood leukemia and lymphoma may present with overlapping nonspecific symptoms, yet their initial laboratory profiles can differ substantially. Pediatric lymphoma, in particular, may present without cytopenia and with normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), potentially creating false reassurance. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study of 81 patients diagnosed with leukemia (n=49; B-ALL 28, T-ALL 7, AML 14) or lymphoma (n=32; NHL 17, Hodgkin lymphoma 15) between January 2024 and January 2026 at a tertiary pediatric hematology–oncology center. Clinical and laboratory findings were compared using Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney U tests. The primary analysis compared the prevalence of a laboratory-reassuring profile, defined as simultaneous absence of cytopenia and LDH ≤300 U/L. Results: The laboratory-reassuring profile was present in 16 of 32 lymphoma patients (50%) and in none of the 49 leukemia patients (0%; p<0.001). Absence of cytopenia was observed in 65.6% of lymphoma patients versus 0% of leukemia patients (p<0.001). Among the 16 laboratory-reassuring lymphoma patients, 81.2% had lymphadenopathy and 81.2% had symptoms lasting >14 days. Leukemia showed higher frequencies of ecchymosis, bone or limb pain, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia (all p<0.001). Conclusion: The absence of cytopenia, assessed using age-appropriate thresholds, together with normal LDH does not exclude lymphoma in children. Unexplained or persistent lymphadenopathy and symptoms persisting beyond two weeks should prompt referral despite normal indices. These findings characterize the presenting profile of leukemia and lymphoma and highlight the risk of laboratory-based false reassurance.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Izmir City Hospital (Approval number: 2026/153, date: 18/02/2026). Informed Consent: Because the study was designed retrospectively, no written informed consent form was obtained from patients.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infant and Child Health

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehtap Ertekin ^*
0000-0003-1622-890X
Türkiye

Zühal Önder Siviş
0000-0002-3499-1864
Türkiye

Burcak Tatlı Güneş
0000-0001-7080-2373
Türkiye

Esin Özcan
0000-0002-0867-1752
Türkiye

Salih Gözmen
0000-0002-8585-9628
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 15, 2026

Submission Date

May 28, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ertekin, M., Önder Siviş, Z., Tatlı Güneş, B., Özcan, E., & Gözmen, S. (2026). Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(4), 732-738. https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX

AMA

1.Ertekin M, Önder Siviş Z, Tatlı Güneş B, Özcan E, Gözmen S. Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(4):732-738. https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX

Chicago

Ertekin, Mehtap, Zühal Önder Siviş, Burcak Tatlı Güneş, Esin Özcan, and Salih Gözmen. 2026. “Laboratory-Reassuring Profiles in Pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (4): 732-38. https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX.

EndNote

Ertekin M, Önder Siviş Z, Tatlı Güneş B, Özcan E, Gözmen S (August 1, 2026) Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 4 732–738.

IEEE

[1]M. Ertekin, Z. Önder Siviş, B. Tatlı Güneş, E. Özcan, and S. Gözmen, “Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 732–738, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX

ISNAD

Ertekin, Mehtap - Önder Siviş, Zühal - Tatlı Güneş, Burcak - Özcan, Esin - Gözmen, Salih. “Laboratory-Reassuring Profiles in Pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/4 (August 1, 2026): 732-738. https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX.

JAMA

1.Ertekin M, Önder Siviş Z, Tatlı Güneş B, Özcan E, Gözmen S. Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:732–738.

MLA

Ertekin, Mehtap, et al. “Laboratory-Reassuring Profiles in Pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 732-8, https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX.

Vancouver

1.Mehtap Ertekin, Zühal Önder Siviş, Burcak Tatlı Güneş, Esin Özcan, Salih Gözmen. Laboratory-reassuring profiles in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: a single-center cohort study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;7(4):732-8. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA32AJ73NX