A retrospective review on the histopathological pattern of childhood malignant solid tumors in Ethiopia

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pediatric Pathology
• Global Health

Background:

• Malignancies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are often underreported due to insufficient data quality.
• Accurate histopathological data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and improving patient outcomes in pediatric oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the histopathological patterns of pediatric solid malignancies in children aged 0-15 years.
• To identify the most prevalent types of pediatric solid tumors at Ethiopia's largest referral hospital.
• To highlight diagnostic challenges and needs in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 432 cases of pediatric solid malignancies.
• Evaluation of histopathological data from a major referral hospital in Ethiopia.
• Data collection focused on children aged 0-15 years.

Main Results:

• Lymphoma was the most common malignancy (21.8%), followed by retinoblastoma (19.4%) and Wilms tumor (13.9%).
• Burkitt lymphoma, a common pediatric malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa, was found in only 2.1% of cases.
• A significant 7% of cases lacked definitive diagnosis due to inadequate confirmatory testing.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals distinct patterns of pediatric solid malignancies in Ethiopia compared to regional literature.
• There is a critical need to enhance diagnostic capabilities and confirmatory testing for pediatric cancers in LMICs.
• Improving data quality and diagnostic infrastructure is essential for addressing the burden of pediatric malignancies in resource-limited settings.