Abstract

Childhood cancer is a global public health problem. In developing countries like Nigeria,
however, childhood cancer has not been a priority for authorities and health planners. This is
reflected in the low level of interest in the development of paediatric cancer statistics and
institutional cancer management and research facilities. Malignant tumours in children are
distinct pathologically, clinically, and therapeutically from those of adults.
The aim of the present study was to make a histopathological review of malignant paediatric
solid tumours in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria from January 1989 to
December 2008; to evaluate their age, sex, and site distribution and their morphological
characteristics. All the cases histologically diagnosed, in the department of pathology in the
period under study were retrieved from departmental records. Essential variables in each case
were collected from the request forms and the formalin fixed, paraffin embedded,
Haematoxylin & Eosin stained slides were morphologically evaluated using light microscopy.
Childhood solid cancers analysed constituted 7.9% of all solid malignancies seen during the
study period. Lymphomas (39.2%) along with retinoblastomas (21.7%) are the dominant
groups. There was a near paucity of intracranial tumours.
Burkitt’s lymphoma is the commonest specific entity observed (25.2%) and it showed a
significant male predominance. This is followed in decending order of relative frequency by
retinoblastoma (21.7%), nephroblastoma (9.8%) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (7.5%).
Germ cell tumours, epithelial malignancies and Kaposi sarcomas also showed significant relative
frequency ratios.
The head and neck regions were the commonest site of involvement by paediatric solid
cancers. A changing pattern with substantial fall in the frequencies of the dominant tumour
types was observed in this study. Differences in solid malignant disease pattern compared with
reports from other centers in Nigeria and Africa is noted in this survey.

The variation in the frequency of malignant paediatric solid tumours in this study compared to previous reports call for sustained national/regional population based studies to exploit the extensive ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity and practice in Nigeria and Africa. This is with a view to identify possible genetic and environmental risk factors.
This will also underscore the necessity of prioritization to be given to development of cancer
statistics and cancer research to provide the basis for public health prevention, health planning
and the commissioning of resources.