Association of rib anomalies and childhood cancers.

BACKGROUND

Congenital anomalies have been found more often in children with cancer than in those without. Rib abnormalities (RAs) have been associated with childhood cancer; however, studies have differed in the type of RAs and cancers implicated.

METHODS

Rib abnormalities were assessed predominantly by X-ray in a hospital-based case-control study.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the number of cases vs controls with RAs after controlling for age and sex, specifically for acute myelogenous leukaemia, renal tumours, and hepatoblastoma.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study support previous reports that there is an association of rib anomalies with childhood cancer.