The multidisciplinary Norton Children’s Cancer Predisposition Program is designed to identify, monitor and support children who have inherited genetic conditions that increase their lifetime risk of cancer. The program established in November 2024 is a collaborative effort between Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and Norton Children’s Genetics Center, also…
Cancer care offered through Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is ranked among the top 50 pediatric cancer programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024–2025 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. This recognition reflects the commitment to excellence at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, evident in a comprehensive array…
Mustafa Barbour, M.D., pediatric neuro-oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is working to advance pediatric neuro-oncology care in Kentucky, where the incidence of pediatric brain tumors exceeds the national average. In response, Dr. Barbour, who leads the Norton Children’s Brain & Spinal Tumor program, helps lead new research…
After improving pediatric cancer survival from nearly nil in the 1950s to more than 85% today, health care providers face new challenges, especially long-term cognitive deficits associated with chemotherapy. In addition to attacking cancer cells, chemotherapy also can affect healthy cells, including those in the central nervous system. This can lead to a range of…
Failure of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) to relieve hydrocephalus in patients with midline brain tumors may be an early indication of an underlying histone H3K27M mutation, according to a recently published study.
Pediatric oncology’s remarkable strides improving survival for children with cancer also has brought a new set of long-term health implications.
Norton Children’s has named a new physician to lead its cancer institute. Michael J. Ferguson, M.D., will serve as chief of Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and division chief of the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation. In these roles, Dr. Ferguson will lead Norton…
Researchers are recruiting pediatric medulloblastoma patients for a novel use of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to prevent relapse. The multisite study, sponsored by the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium and led by Michael Angelo C. Huang, M.D., pediatric neuro-oncologist at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, looks at whether DFMO offers a new…
Infants and children can be prone to anemia for a variety of reasons throughout their first years of life and adolescence. Anemia can be caused by diet, blood loss or other health conditions. Signs and symptoms may include pallor, jaundice, scleral icterus, exercise and/or feeding intolerance and general fatigue. Anemia can be detected during a…
The patient A 4-year-old boy presented to the hospital with fever, fatigue and weakness. He also complained of blurry vision. He had recently had nose bleeds and oral bleeding. A complete blood count showed pancytopenia, as well as blasts on his peripheral smear. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed. He was diagnosed with…
Tumors in the central nervous system (CNS) account for 20% of childhood cancers, with 5.65 cases and 0.72 deaths per 100,000 children under 14 in the United States. Brain tumors are second only to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in incidence. While recent advances have resulted in greater life expectancy for some childhood CNS tumor patients, the…
The patient A 14-year-old female presented with worsening headache and deterioration of vision especially in the left eye. MRI detected a large hypothalamic enhancing tumor causing mass effect on the optic nerves. The pituitary gland appeared to be pushed inferiorly. The challenge Because of tumor location and potential complications with tumor resection, the multidisciplinary team…