Histopathology of malignant tumours of childhood in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency distribution of malignant tumours of childhood aged 0-14 years.

DESIGN

A retrospective histopathological review of 541 cases of malignant tumours of childhood.

SETTING

Cancer Registry, Department of Histopathology, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

RESULTS

Malignant tumours of childhood accounted for 11.5% of all malignant tumours recorded in the cancer registry. Commonest malignant tumours were lymphomas (53%), of which 31.4% were Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), 14.9% Hodgkin's disease (HD), and 6.6% Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Others were retinoblastoma (12.9%), carcinoma (9%), nephroblastoma and soft tissue sarcoma each 6.7% and Kaposi's sarcoma (5.9%). Bone, germ cell and nervous system tumours were rare.

CONCLUSION

These findings may act as a basis for which further studies on malignant tumours of childhood in Tanzania could be carried out.