Histopathology of malignant tumours of childhood in Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency distribution of malignant tumours of childhood aged 0-14 years.


METHODS
A retrospective histopathological review of 541 cases of malignant tumours of childhood.


METHODS
Cancer Registry, Department of Histopathology, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.


RESULTS
Malignant tumours of childhood accounted for 11.5% of all malignant tumours recorded in the cancer registry. Commonest malignant tumours were lymphomas (53%), of which 31.4% were Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), 14.9% Hodgkin's disease (HD), and 6.6% Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Others were retinoblastoma (12.9%), carcinoma (9%), nephroblastoma and soft tissue sarcoma each 6.7% and Kaposi's sarcoma (5.9%). Bone, germ cell and nervous system tumours were rare.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may act as a basis for which further studies on malignant tumours of childhood in Tanzania could be carried out.
Mgaya
E M
EM
Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology, Muhimbili Medical Centre, P.O. Box 65215, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kitinya
J N
JN
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology