Anaesthetic management of the child with haematological malignancy

There are 1400 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed in the UK every year, affecting one in 600 children by the age of 14. Haematological malignancy accounts for 45% of these. With the incidence of leukaemia increasing, and improving 5 yr survival (currently around 85%), anaesthetists are increasingly likely to encounter these children, providing care during diagnostic procedures, chemoradiotherapy, surgical treatment, and in intensive care.