Pattern of solid paediatric malignant neoplasm at Lumhs, Jamshoro, Pakistan

To evaluate pattern and frequency of solid malignant tumour in paediatric age group in our region.

A retrospective study of 113 patients, whose surgical biopsies submitted in histopathology section of Pathology department, LUMHS Jamshoro from January 2001 to December 2005.

Total of 113 cases, 61 male and 52 female children in age group from 4 months to 15 years were diagnosed as solid malignant tumour with M/F ratio of 1.79:1 and mean age of 6.6 year. Maximum no. of patients was in 0-4 age 50.4%, followed by 32.7% in 4-9 and 16.8% in 10-15 years. The five most common tumours were Retinoblastoma 38.9%, Wilm's tumour 13.2%, Brain tumour (Glial tumours) 10.6%, Hodgkin disease 9.7% and soft tissue sarcomas 9.7%. Retinoblastoma and Wilm's tumour were common in 0-4 year age group, where as rest of tumour were more frequent in 5-9 and 10-15 years age group. Brain tumours and soft tissue sarcomas were common in females, while Hodgkin's disease was more common in males.

Retinoblastoma was most common solid malignant tumour in early age group. It calls for ophthalmologic screening of all children below 1 year and high risk children until the age of 7 year, in order to detect retinoblastoma as early as possible.