Follow‐up of osteonecrosis in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients treated with the NOPHO ALL2008 protocol




Rokkanen, Roosa; Aarnivala, Henri; Huhtaniska, Sanna; Palmu, Sauli; Pokka, Tytti; Pöyhönen, Tuuli; Suo‐Palosaari, Maria; Utriainen, Pauliina; Järvelä, Liisa; Niinimäki, Riitta

PublisherWiley

2025

 British Journal of Haematology

British Journal of Haematology

bjh.70085

0007-1048

1365-2141

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.70085

https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.70085

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499693400



Although osteonecrosis (ON) is a common sequel after childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treatment and may cause debilitating symptoms, its prognosis remains underexplored. We describe the radiological evolution of ON lesions in a Finnish patient cohort treated according to the The Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL2008 protocol. We aimed to identify the factors influencing the outcome of ON. We collected data from 37 patients diagnosed with ON treated in five tertiary centres. We analysed magnetic resonance imaging scans containing 235 ON lesions (109 affecting joints) and graded them using the Niinimäki classification system. The mean follow-up time from an ON diagnosis was 3.3 years (SD 3.4 range: 0.04–13.5). Among the lesions with follow-up scans, 55% remained stable, 35% resolved, 8% improved to lower grade and 2% progressed. Joint collapse was observed in 18 joint lesions (17%). Factors associated with unfavourable outcomes were female sex, older age at diagnosis and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The chance for spontaneous resolution of ON was lower in females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 10.3, 95% CI 2.0–52.6) and decreased with age (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.7), whereas HSCT was associated with joint collapse already at ON diagnosis (aOR 8.3, 95% CI 2.6–27.0).


This work was supported by a grant from the Paediatric Cancer Foundation Aamu and the Snellman Foundation (grants to Roosa Rokkanen). Additionally, Riitta Niinimäki received funding for university-level health research at Oulu University Hospital, the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia and Finnish State Research Funding granted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and from the Väre Foundation for Paediatric Cancer Research. Open access publishing facilitated by Oulun yliopisto, as part of the Wiley - FinELib agreement.


Last updated on 15/09/2025 12:26:13 PM