[Articular involvement as a presenting symptom of malignancy in childhood].

The clinical and laboratory features of 6 children with arthritis or arthralgia as presenting manifestations of malignancy are described. 4 of the 6 had leukemia, 1 had a neuroblastoma and 1 had histiocytosis-X. The diagnosis of malignancy was made 2 days to 2.5 months after onset of symptoms. Although all patients presented with limp, the clinical courses suggested the need to consider leukemia and the other malignancies in the differential diagnosis.