Pathological study of bone tumours at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Although primary bone tumours are relatively uncommon, they constitute the most important tumours in patients under 20 years.

To update the literature on the relative frequency and clinico-pathologic characteristics of bone tumours in this environment.

The clinical and histopathological records of patients presenting with diagnosis of bone tumours between 1999 and 2004 and managed at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, (NOHI) Lagos, Nigeria were review and where necessary, new ones were prepared from the paraffin blocks and stained with routine haematoxylin and eosin stain. The clinical data such as the age, sex, presenting signs and symptoms, site distribution of lesions, radiological finding as well as the record of other investigation and management were extracted from the clinical case notes of patients.

Seventy-seven cases were recorded; 61 (79.2%) benign and 16 (15.6%) malignant. The male:female ratio for all tumours was 2:1. The commonest benign bone tumours were osteochondroma and giant cell tumour accounting for 52 (67%) of all cases with > 60% in males. The most common primary malignant bone tumour was osteosarcoma, all in males. The peak incidence was in the second and third decades and commonest sites were the distal femur and proximal tibia. Four (5.2%) cases of metastatic bone tumours located commonly in the proximal femur and humerus were also recorded.

Osteochondroma and giant cell tumours are the commonest benign tumours while osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumour all occurring in the first two decades of life. The age and sex distribution and morphology are similar to those already established in the African and international literature.