Introduction

Author: Viera Bajčiová, MD, PhD

Pediatric oncology is a relatively new medical discipline and important integral part of general pediatrics. Based on the dramatic progress which has been made in the treatment of childhood cancer in the last 50 years and increasing annual incidence of childhood cancer the basic knowledges about pediatric type of tumors are essential for all health care professionals.

Authors are presenting an electronic form of textbook of pediatric oncology for pregradual students with the aim to facilitate the study of pediatric cancer.

General section of the textbook provides a concise overview of the fundamental differences between pediatric and adult oncology, age specific clinical presentation of  cancer in childhood, basic diagnostic procedures and treatment modalities of malignant diseases and last but not least the importance of organisation and centralisation of pediatric oncology on national and international level.

Special section of the textbook  offers an overview of the common and rare malignant tumors in children from epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures to treatment modalities and prognosis.
The third section is devoted to emergencies and acute toxicity of anticancer treatment in pediatric oncology.

The last section of the textbook  offers the review of the most common late consequences and late effects in childhood cancer survivors.