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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 458 - 469

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.018

Original Articles

Characterizing the distribution of Chinese medicine syndrome of cancer-related fatigue in childhood lymphoma based on latent structure model

  • DONG Ziqi ,
  • HUANG Jing ,
  • LU Lu ,
  • CHEN Yuru ,
  • GAN Guoling ,
  • DUAN Yanlong ,
  • JIN Ling ,
  • HUANG Shuang ,
  • ZHANG Meng ,
  • LI Nan ,
  • GAO Zhen ,
  • Lü Jiaxuan
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  • 1 Department of Pediatrics, Beijing Pinggu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, BeiJing 101200, China
    2 Department of Pediatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, BeiJing 100091, China
    3 Department of pediatrics, Beijing Mentougou Maternaland Child Care Hospital, Beijing 102300, China
    4 Department of Pediatrics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100027, China
    5 Medical Oncology Department, Pediatric Oncology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China
HUANG Jing, Department of Pediatrics, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China 13522098586@163.com; Telephone: +86-13522098586

Received date: 2024-12-16

  Accepted date: 2025-06-21

  Online published: 2026-04-04

Supported by

Preliminary Study on Tiered Healthcare Based on a Pediatric Collaborative Development Model(XTGL201914);Establishment and Application of a Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment System for Pediatric Lymphoma(XTZD20180204)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndromes in children with lymphoma-related cancer-related fatigue (CRF) using latent structure model analysis.

METHODS: This was a single-center cross-sectional study in which Chinese medicine diagnostic information was collected from 153 children diagnosed with childhood lymphoma CRF from July 2022 to December 2023. The latent structure model of the CRF for childhood lymphoma was constructed using the latent tree model-extension adjustment simplification until termination algorithm, and the population was classified using comprehensive clustering. Combined with the existing guidelines, we explored the distribution characteristics and dynamic progression of syndrome types in patients with childhood lymphoma CRF.

RESULTS: Initially, a latent structural model incorporating 72 manifest variables was constructed. Through comprehensive clustering, 6 distinct TCM syndrome types were identified, and corresponding quantitative identification rules were formulated. The 153 pediatric cases were then reclassified according to these rules, with the syndromes ranked in descending order of percentage as follows: blood deficiency and stasis, vigorous fire due to Yindeficiency, deficiency of both the lung and spleen, liver constraint and Qi stagnation, dampness-heat retention, and heart-spleen heat accumulation. Preliminary findings suggest that the shifting patterns of TCM syndromes in childhood lymphoma CRF may exhibit clinically meaningful relationships with tumor staging and treatment time courses.

CONCLUSION: Using latent structure analysis, 6 TCM syndromes and their quantitative identification rules were identified. A comparison with existing guidelines revealed that CRF in patients with childhood lymphoma is characterized primarily by a syndrome of mixed deficiency and excess. Therefore, in the treatment of pediatric CRF, it is recommended not only that deficiency patterns be addressed but also that the clinical stage and treatment phase of the tumor be considered. Additionally, therapeutic strategies should emphasize promoting digestion, resolving food stagnation, regulating Qi, and clearing heat to formulate a tailored treatment plan.

Key words： cancer-related fatigue; child; lymphoma; syndrome complex; models, structural

Cite this article

DONG Ziqi , HUANG Jing , LU Lu , CHEN Yuru , GAN Guoling , DUAN Yanlong , JIN Ling , HUANG Shuang , ZHANG Meng , LI Nan , GAO Zhen , Lü Jiaxuan . Characterizing the distribution of Chinese medicine syndrome of cancer-related fatigue in childhood lymphoma based on latent structure model[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 458 -469 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.018

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