Pattern of childhood malignant tumours in Umuahia South East Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Cancers in children should be incorporated as one of the childhood killer diseases in developing countries.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the demographic and pathologic characteristics of childhood tumours in Umuahia. South East Nigeria

Methodology: The Operative records, histology request and report forms were studied and the clinicopathologic information were retrieved and analysed using SPSS version 20.0

Results: A total of 50 cases of malignant diseases of children were clinically diagnosed and histologically confirmed. The mean age of the patients were 8 years with age range of 1 to 17 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1. The peak age of incidence falls in the 1-5 age groups which accounted for 40%. Wilm’s tumour was the commonest 25, Rhabdomyosarcoma 10 cases, Neuroblastoma 5cases, Oesteosarcoma 5cases, Teratomas 5 cases.

Conclusion: Childhood cancer is increasing in our environment. However, late presentation, ignorance, poverty leads to poor outcome.