Incidence of malignant neoplasms in children attending Social Security Hospitals in Mexico City

An increase in neoplasms in Mexican children has been reported. In 1991, the incidence in children from Mexico City (MC) was 70 (x 10(6) child/year), although this rate might be underestimated. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of malignant neoplasms in children resident in MC attending Social Security (SS) hospitals. This study was a retrospective hospital survey. All records of childhood malignant neoplasms diagnosed between 1992 and 1993 in the two SS hospitals which attend childhood neoplasms in MC were reviewed. Histopathological diagnoses were reevaluated and incidence rates (x 10(6) child/ year) in terms of age, sex, and place of residence were estimated. A total of 667 cases were found for the period of study, of which 199 corresponded to residents of MC. The neoplasms with highest prevalence were leukemias (39.2%), lymphomas (17.6%), and central nervous system tumors (12.6%). A general incidence of 94.3 was found, which was highest in children under 5 years of age. Leukemias had an incidence of 36.4, lymphomas of 15.2, and central nervous system tumors of 12.0. Prevalence was higher in boys (male/female ratio of 1.6). As for the place of residence, the highest incidence corresponded to children living in the southern areas of MC. Eighty percent of the leukemias were acute lymphoblastic, while 54% of solid neoplasms were classified as stages III and IV. In conclusion, the incidence of malignant neoplasms in children resident in MC treated at SS hospitals is consistent with that found worldwide, and also with the Latin American pattern.