Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria, Nigeria

• Main Authors: Sani Malami, Hezekiah Isah, Enoch Afolayan, Mohammed Abdullahi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: African Journal of Paediatric Surgery
• Subjects: Children; primary bone tumours; tumour-like lesions
• Online Access: http://www.afrjpaedsurg.org/article.asp?issn=0189-6725;year=2010;volume=7;issue=1;spage=16;epage=18;aulast=Mohammed
• ISSN: 0189-6725; 0974-5998

<b>Background: </b> Studies on bone neoplasms are generally scanty globally and more so in children. Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children have not been reported from Zaria. <b> Objective:</b> To determine the relative frequencies, sex and age distributions, and anatomical sites of occurrence of primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> A retrospective review of histopathology reports of 40 children with bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in 11 years of age. <b> Results:</b> Benign tumours accounted for 12 (30&#x0025;) of the 40 tumours reviewed (osteoma 2.5&#x0025;, osterochondroma 22.5&#x0025;, fibroma 5&#x0025;); while malignant tumours occurred in 19 (47.5&#x0025;) (osteosarcoma 5&#x0025;, Burkitt&#x2032;s lymphoma 37.5&#x0025;, diffuse lympholastic lymphoma 5&#x0025;). Tumour-like lesions accounted for 9 (22.5&#x0025;), all fibrous dysplasia. Out of 40 tumours, 23 (57.5&#x0025;) occurred in males and 17 (422.5&#x0025;) in females. The majority of tumours, 45&#x0025; occurred in the age group of 10-15 years, followed by 15 (37.5) occurring in the 5&#8722;9 years age range. The most common malignany was Burkitt&#x2032;s lymphoma 15 (37.5&#x0025;). Maxilla was the most common site for malignant (30&#x0025;) and benign tumours (12.5&#x0025;). <b> Conclusion:</b> This study has shown that, primary bone tumours are relatively uncommon in children in our setting.