Paediatric hematopathology: something real special

Excerpt

The present issue of the Journal of Hematopathology deals with paediatric hematopathology. Some colleagues may wonder why this topic needs a special issue. Aren’t haematological neoplasms in children not exceedingly rare and not too different from adults? The first answer is yes, the second no. Indeed, haematological neoplasms in children are very rare, but that supports the need of a special issue: few of us have a lot of experience and yet many hematopathologists occasionally encounter situations in which their call is very critical. In fact, the evaluation of haematological proliferations in children needs specific knowledge to prevent harm by unnecessary treatment on the one hand and install needed treatment quickly on the other. And indeed, the proliferations in children are different from adults. Overdiagnosis of a clonal population in a child has serious consequences and a (too) late diagnosis of an aggressive lymphoproliferation as well. The present special issue updates the reader on several recent and relevant developments. …