Benign childhood tumours in Benin City, Nigeria

A retrospective analysis of benign tumours seen in children aged 0-14 years over a 10-year period (1993-2002) was carried out in Benin City Nigeria, in order to determine the various histological types of such tumours. A total of 76 cases were seen during the study period, out of which 32 occurred in males and 44 in females. The commonest histological categories were tumours of connective tissues, peripheral nerve and teratoma. Haemangioma and neurofibroma occurred with equal frequency and were the single most common histological types of benign childhood tumours. Head and neck was the most common anatomic region to be involved with childhood benign tumours.