Team of doctors and nurses celebrating the patient being discharged from the hospital

The patient having bone marrow transplant is Phan D. D., 4 years old, from Dac Lac province. The child was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma with tumor in the retroperitoneal space, bone metastases. After the course of treatment, he had a partial response and was indicated for a bone marrow transplant. During the transplant process, D. experienced agranulocytosis with fever, elevated liver enzymes, mouth ulcer; but with great patient care of the medical team, he has recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Hue Central Hospital Pediatric Center has implemented autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with solid tumors and lymphoma since November 2019. After more than 3 years, the Pediatric Center performed stem cell transplant for 35 cases (31 cases of high-risk neuroblastoma, 2 cases of metastatic retinoblastoma and 2 cases of recurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma).

With the number of 35 cases within 3.5 years, Hue Central Hospital ranks second in the country in terms of autologous stem cell transplantation to treat pediatric solid tumors; among them, the first cases of autologous stem cell transplants in Vietnam were performed in Hue, which were for patients with metastatic retinoblastoma and recurrent Burkitt Lymphoma.

Patients having autologous stem cell transplant came from all parts of the country: Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Kien Giang, Ninh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City; in which the youngest child was 9 months old, while the oldest is 8 years old.

 A case of autogolous transplantation at Hue Central Hospital

Hue Central Hospital is equipped with modern machinery and instruments, and an international standard stem cell transplant room. A team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained in developed nations in stem cell transplantation, is advantagous for the implementation of this technique.

Professor Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital said: “With the advantage of a high-class general hospital with full specialties: Pediatric Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, Pediatric Surgery, Ophthalmology, Hematology and blood transfusion, Radiotherapy..., the hospital organizes weekly multidisciplinary consultations to plan multimodal treatment for patients methodically and professionally according to update guidelines. In addition to weekly multidisciplinary consultations in the hospital, the hospital also conducts online consultations and combines treatment with leading experts in the world such as the US, France, Japan, Canada, Singapore... in order to optimize multimodal treatment, bringing the best outcome for patients”.

Autologous stem cell transplantation at Hue Central Hospital is being performed more routinely. In the coming time, the hospital will continue to carry out autologous stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with solid tumors and to implement allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of bone marrow failure, blood cancer or Thalassemia...

By TUE HIEN