title: Pattern of paediatric malignancies seen at the Radiotherapy Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paediatric tumours are seen by the radiotherapist following referral from other specialists. Patients seen by the radiotherapists may not conform to the full spectrum seen in the hospital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the pattern of presentation of paediatric malignancies seen at the radiotherapy department of the UCH, Ibadan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of all patients below the age of 12 seen in Radiotherapy Department of UCH, Ibadan over a 19-year period was undertaken. Data were collected from the case files and the radiotherapy treatment cards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  244 cases were evaluated with age ranged between 4 months and 12 years. Male to female ratio was 1.15 to 1.0. 23 tumour types were seen with retinoblastoma accounting for about 45% of all the patients reviewed. Burkitt's lymphoma accounted for only about 2.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinoblastoma, nephroblastoma, intracranial malignancies and rhabdomyosarcoma are the tumours most commonly seen at the Radiotherapy Department of the UCH, Ibadan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdus-salam
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adenipekun
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Akinlade
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Elumelu
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009549:Nigeria; D012175:Retinoblastoma; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma; D009396:Wilms Tumor