Main Article Content
Pattern of bone tumours at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
Abstract
Aim: To study the clinical, radiological and histological patterns of bone tumours seen at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu over a period of 13 years (1990–2003).
Materials and Methods: The medical records of 56 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of bone tumours during the 13 years period were analysed.
Results: Of the 56 cases studied, 31 were malignant and 25 benign. Of these also 35 were male and 21 female giving a male to female ratio of 17 to 1. The average age range was 5 to 76 years. The age range for the benign cases was 5 to 59 years and 10 to 76 years for malignant cases. Altogether 57% of males and 52.4% of females had benign lesions. In the benign group, the main presenting symptom was painless slow growing mass while in the malignant group the symptoms consisted of painful rapid growing tumour with occasional pathological fractures and disruption of function. The commonest benign lesions were ameloblastoma (9) and fibro-osseous lesions (11) while osteosarcoma was the commonest malignant lesion (8). Definitive diagnosis was based on clinical, plain film radiographic findings and biopsy findings. The benign lesions had excision/curettage done, while the malignant cases had ablation or amputations. Those with distant metastases were managed conservatively after tumour ablation. For some cases, recurrence occurred after surgery over a period ranging from 1 year to 22 years. The outcome in most of the remaining patients was not verified due to poor patient follow-up.
Conclusions: The pattern of bone tumours in South-East Nigeria parallels those in South Western Nigeria and the Western World.
Keywords: bone tumours, pattern, benign, malignant, Enugu
Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 10(2) 2005: 94-101
Materials and Methods: The medical records of 56 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of bone tumours during the 13 years period were analysed.
Results: Of the 56 cases studied, 31 were malignant and 25 benign. Of these also 35 were male and 21 female giving a male to female ratio of 17 to 1. The average age range was 5 to 76 years. The age range for the benign cases was 5 to 59 years and 10 to 76 years for malignant cases. Altogether 57% of males and 52.4% of females had benign lesions. In the benign group, the main presenting symptom was painless slow growing mass while in the malignant group the symptoms consisted of painful rapid growing tumour with occasional pathological fractures and disruption of function. The commonest benign lesions were ameloblastoma (9) and fibro-osseous lesions (11) while osteosarcoma was the commonest malignant lesion (8). Definitive diagnosis was based on clinical, plain film radiographic findings and biopsy findings. The benign lesions had excision/curettage done, while the malignant cases had ablation or amputations. Those with distant metastases were managed conservatively after tumour ablation. For some cases, recurrence occurred after surgery over a period ranging from 1 year to 22 years. The outcome in most of the remaining patients was not verified due to poor patient follow-up.
Conclusions: The pattern of bone tumours in South-East Nigeria parallels those in South Western Nigeria and the Western World.
Keywords: bone tumours, pattern, benign, malignant, Enugu
Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 10(2) 2005: 94-101
