TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC LYMPHOMAS WITH SURGICAL INTERVENTION

Abstract

Lymphoma, a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, is one of the most common neoplasms in childhood. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the mainstays of treatment, surgery plays a fundamental role in certain cases, especially for staging, resection of tumor masses and symptom control. This summary aims to review the scientific literature on the role of surgery in the treatment of pediatric lymphomas, considering technological advances and the most recent evidence. Objective: This systematic review of the literature seeks to identify the main studies that evaluated the role of surgery in the treatment of pediatric lymphomas, analyzing the types of surgery, the indications and the results obtained. Methodology: Searches were performed in the PubMed, SciELO and Web of Science databases, using the following descriptors: "lymphoma", "pediatric", "surgery", "treatment" and "childhood". The selection of studies included original articles published in the last 10 years, in English or Portuguese, that evaluated the role of surgery in the treatment of lymphomas in children and adolescents. The following inclusion criteria were applied: prospective or retrospective studies, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma, and surgical intervention as part of the treatment. The exclusion criteria were: systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case studies and opinion articles. Results: Fifteen studies were selected. The results of the review demonstrated that surgery plays an important role in the treatment of pediatric lymphomas, especially in cases where there are large tumor masses, compression of adjacent organs or involvement of vital structures. Surgery can be used for staging the disease, resection of tumor masses, biopsy for diagnosis and to relieve symptoms such as pain and obstruction. The choice of the type of surgery depends on the type of lymphoma, the location of the tumor and the extent of the disease. The studies included in the review demonstrated that surgery, when indicated, is associated with better oncological results and a lower rate of recurrence. Conclusion: Surgery is a fundamental component of the treatment of pediatric lymphomas, complementing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The choice of surgical approach should be individualized and based on the characteristics of each patient and the stage of the disease. Surgery can improve local control of the disease, facilitate diagnosis and staging, and contribute to improving the quality of life of patients. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of surgery in the treatment of pediatric lymphomas and to identify the prognostic factors that influence the results.