Pattern of paediatric solid malignant tumours in southern Orissa

Twenty-nine cases of solid malignant tumours in paediatric age group were studied. The incidence of different tumours in order of frequency were lymphomas (37.9%), Wilms' tumour (24.1%), neuroblastoma (17.2%), soft tissue sarcoma (10.4%) and rare tumours (10.4%). Maximum number of tumours occurred in 1-5 years' age group. Male predominance was noted (male:female as 2.2:1). Among the lymphomas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma outnumbered Hodgkin's lymphoma. Left kidney affection was seen more than the right kidney among cases of Wilms' tumours. Neuroblastomas presented commonly as abdominal masses. All the 3 cases of soft tissue sarcomas were embryonal rhabdomysoarcomas. Rare tumours encountered in the study were ovarian tumours (arrhenoblastoma), endodermal sinus tumours and hepatoblastoma.