Histopathologic spectrum of childhood tumours in a Tertiary Hospital: a ten-year review.

Amin, Said M; Nwatah, Vincent E; Ameh, Emmanuel A; Oyesegun, Abdurasaq R; Oyesakin, Adewumi B

Background There has been a growing public health burden of childhood tumours in low and middle income countries (LMICs) as the trend in epidemiological transition continues to vary. Objective The objective of this report is to determine the spectrum of childhood tumours at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods A retrospective review of the histopathology register over the period January 2006 to December 2015. Results The total paediatric tumour cases was 248, including 143 (57.7%) females and 105 (42.3%) males, aged 0 - 12 years (mean 6.1 years ± 3.97 SD). The age group 2 - 5 year cohort had the highest prevalence of tumour. The predominant tumour based on tissue of origin was epithelial neoplasms 88 (35.5%), vascular neoplasms 56 (22.6%), neural neoplasm 42 (16.9%), mesenchymal neoplasm 37 (14.9%), germ cell neoplasm 13 (5.2%) and haematopoietic neoplasms 12 (4.8%). Majority of the tumours were benign, 148 (59.7%) and malignant 100 (40.3%). The most predominant benign tumour was haemangioma 33 (13.3%) and predominant malignant tumour was lymphoma 22 (8.9%). Conclusion Benign tumours remain the commonest neoplasm of children in this hospital-based data. Development and implementation of a tumour registry would provide a more comprehensive information.