The decision in pediatrics to go ahead with bone marrow transplant for a pediatric malignancy

Abstract

Bone marrow transplantation in pediatrics has become an accepted modality of therapy for a variety of malignant diseases. This sophisticated approach is now being used worldwide in a large number of centers for children who fail to respond to conventional therapy. In this review I have addressed the questions of when we should offer a bone marrow transplant, what medical issues impact on this decision, when such treatment is in the child's best interests and who acts for the patient during the transplant procedure. The decision to proceed with a bone marrow transplant is a complex one and requires frank discussions on a regular basis between family members and professional staff since, for many of these questions, there are no set responses.