title: An 8-YEAR analysis of bone tumours in a Caribbean island.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An epidemiologic analysis of bone tumours in Trinidad & Tobago.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of primary and secondary bone tumours, site of origin and demographic data was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  63 bone tumours were analysed and included 27 primary benign (43%), 12 primary malignant (19%), 19 metastatic (30%) and 5 by contiguous spread (8%). The most common malignant primary tumour was the osteosarcoma (n = 7), originating from the femur in mostly males in the 11-20 age group. There was 1 chondrosarcoma, 2 fibrosarcomas and 2 plasmacytomas. Benign tumours consisted of 8 osteochondromas, 2 osteomas, 3 giant cell tumours, 3 bone cysts and 11 cases of fibrous dysplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bone tumours are rare with a low incidence of 1.125 per 100,000 population annually and malignant tumours being even rarer at an incidence of 0.18 per 100,000 population annually. There is need for better documentation and data registries in Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramdass
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mooteeram
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beharry
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mencia
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: Shaheeba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrow
keywords: Bone tumours; Caribbean