Does [ Steroid intake before leukemia diagnosis impair outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia ]?
Steroids can induce a delay in the management of ALL and seem to favor initial complications, and possibly increase diffuse locations as well as steroid resistance. Their prescription needs to be carefully managed, especially for uncharacteristic infectious symptoms. Then a complete blood count should be done.
Preemptive conversion is associated with a better outcome than reactive conversion. Based on this finding, it appears preferable for the surgeon to have a low threshold for performing PC rather than awaiting the need for an RC.