Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics

Niger J Paed 2015; 42 (2): 111 -115
ORIGINALS Pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in South-east Nigeria : A ten year study
Okocha EC Aneke JC Ulasi TO Ezeudu CE Umeh EO Ebubedike UR Ukah CO Onwukamuche ME Anyiam DC Onyiaorah IV Ndukwe CO Ugwu JO Ekwunife OH DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njp.v42i2.8 Accepted: 29th November 2014 Okocha EC Aneke JC Department of Haematology Ulasi TO, Ezeudu CE Department of Paediatrics Umeh EO, Ebubedike UR Department of Radiology Ukah CO, Onwukamuche ME Anyiam DC, Onyiaorah IV Ndukwe CO Department of Histopathology Ugwu JO, Ekwunife OH Department of Paediatric Surgery Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria E-mail: onyichideokocha@yahoo.com	Abstract: Background: Cancer remains a major cause of death in children and adolescents, and differs in adults in nature, distribution and prognosis1. A culture of case documentation is lacking in our environment and many cases go unreported. Study objectives: To document the pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in south-east Nigeria over a ten year period (January 2004 to December 2013) Methodology: Details of all children and adolescents aged 18 years and below treated for malignancy were extracted from the cancer registry and the records unit of the histopathology department for the period beginning at January 2004 to December 2013 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria. Information retrieved was verified against the hospital admission register, as well as the medical and histopathology records for all cancer patients over the period of interest. Results: Eighty-five cases of childhood and adolescent malignancy were treated at NAUTH, Nnewi between January2004 and December 2013. Median age of the study population was 9years, with a range of 0.1- 18years, more males (56.50%) than females (43.50%). Commonest tumours were the Lymphomas (11.76%) comprising Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (80%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (10%) and Large-cell lymphoma (10%), the Leukaemias (11.76%) comprising Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (80%) and Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (20%). Others were Rhabdomyosarcoma (11.76%), Nephroblastoma (11.76%), Retinoblastoma (5.88%), Ovarian tumours (4.71%), the Soft tissue sarcomas-excluding rhabdomyosarcoma (3.53%) and Osteogenic sarcoma (3.35%)’. Conclusion: Study findings suggest that lymphoma, leukaemia, rhabdomyosarcoma and nephroblastoma are the commonest childhood and adolescent malignancies in south-east Nigeria. Keywords: Childhood, Adolescent, Malignancy