DESAFIOS NO DIAGNÓSTICO PRECOCE DE CÂNCER PEDIÁTRICO

Abstract

The present study addresses the challenges in the early diagnosis of pediatric cancer, one of the main causes of mortality among children and adolescents in Brazil. The introduction highlights the difficulty of identifying childhood cancer early due to the non-specificity of symptoms, which often resemble benign diseases common in childhood. The methodology used was an integrative review, which brought together and critically analyzed studies published between 2000 and 2023, focusing on the factors that contribute to the late diagnosis of pediatric cancer. The results show that leukemias, tumors of the central nervous system and lymphomas are the most common types of childhood cancer, but early diagnosis is hampered by the lack of specificity of symptoms, such as fever, weight loss and bone pain. Furthermore, health professionals' lack of familiarity with warning signs and limited diagnostic resources in peripheral regions worsen the situation. The conclusion highlights the importance of continuous surveillance and awareness to improve early diagnosis rates and, consequently, the chances of cure.