Childhood malignancies seen in a paediatric ward in a resource limited setting: Any change in pattern?

Abstract

Childhood malignancy is fast becoming an important paediatric problem in Nigeria. To determine any change in trends of childhood malignancies seen among patients admitted into the paediatric wards of a teaching hospital in Sagamu, Nigeria. Ten years retrospective study from 2009 to 2018 of all children hospitalised with malignant conditions aged up to 18 years diagnosed by means of histological or cytological examination. Eighteen cases of childhood malignancies were seen during the ten years period accounting for 0.88% of all admissions into the paediatric wards and giving an average of 2 cases per year. The peak age group of children with cancers was 5 - 9 years (range 1 - 13 years). Male to female ratio is 1:1. The most common childhood malignancy was lymphomas accounting for 27.8%, followed by acute leukaemia (22.2%). About one-tenth of the patients diagnosed with malignancy died in the course of therapy from advanced disease or complications of therapy. Childhood cancers are not uncommon in a Nigerian setting. Lymphomas still remains the most common childhood cancer. Case fatality rate was high among children with cancers in this study. Mobilization of human and material resources towards childhood cancer management is advocated. Lymphomas remains the most common childhood cancer as previously reported. Case fatality was high in this study. Mobilization of resources is advocated.