Pediatric Blood & CancerVolume 46, Issue 2 p. 266-266 Letter to the Editor Spleen and lung involvement by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus bacteremia mimicking deep fungal infection in a child with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia Andrea Di Cataldo MD, Corresponding Author Andrea Di Cataldo MD [email protected] Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalyCentre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.===Search for more papers by this authorMilena La Spina MD, Milena La Spina MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorGregoria Bertuna MD, Gregoria Bertuna MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorLuca Lo Nigro MD, Luca Lo Nigro MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorFrancesca Branciforte MD, Francesca Branciforte MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorElio Castagnola MD, Elio Castagnola MD Department of Haematology and Oncology, Infectious Diseases Unit, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, ItalySearch for more papers by this author Andrea Di Cataldo MD, Corresponding Author Andrea Di Cataldo MD [email protected] Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalyCentre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.===Search for more papers by this authorMilena La Spina MD, Milena La Spina MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorGregoria Bertuna MD, Gregoria Bertuna MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorLuca Lo Nigro MD, Luca Lo Nigro MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorFrancesca Branciforte MD, Francesca Branciforte MD Centre of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorElio Castagnola MD, Elio Castagnola MD Department of Haematology and Oncology, Infectious Diseases Unit, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, ItalySearch for more papers by this author First published: 20 December 2005 https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.20519Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume46, Issue2February 2006Pages 266-266 RelatedInformation

AIM:Sickle cell disease has been frequently associated with sensorineuronal hearing loss. Several studies have demonstrated a significant prevalence rate of sensorineuronal hearing loss in black patients reporting a range of 11-41%, while few data are reported for white people with Hb S/beta thalassemia. In this paper we evaluated the prevalence of sensorineuronal hearing loss in a Sicilian population affected by sickle cell disease.METHODS:Otologic and audiologic examinations were performed in 50 patients with S-beta thalassemia (37 with the beta(s)beta(0th) and 13 with the beta(s)beta(+th)) and 23 patients with sickle cell anemia (beta(s)beta(s)) observed at the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Catania.RESULTS:A sensorial hearing loss of more than 25 dB was recorded in 24% of subjects with Hb S/beta0-thalassemia, in 23% of subjects with Hb S/beta+-thalassemia and in 30% of subjects with sickle cell anemia. We found an increase in the frequency of hearing loss with increasing age.CONCLUSIONS:Our data showed that sensorineuronal hearing loss is a common complication in white patients with sickle cell anemia, and in patients with severe forms of Hb S/beta-thalassemias.

Natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas are rare in the USA and Europe but more common in Asia and Central America although very rare among children. We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus-positive NK lymphoma/leukemia, that showed peculiar features represented by a very long clinical course with a significant interval between the first clinical signs and the diagnosis, detection of neoplastic cells in the peripheral blood but not in the bone marrow, and good response to treatment and clinical outcome.