ABSTRACT
Background: Cancers form one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in children between the ages of one and 15 years. Childhood cancers are histologically more diverse than adult cancers; they differ in type, distribution, etiology and prognosis from adult cancers. Childhood cancers are more influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The patterns of childhood cancers in America and Europe are almost similar, where leukemia tumors accounting for over one-half of cancer cases. In contrast, lymphoma is the most common prevailing cancer among children in Africa. The objective of this study is to determine the patterns of childhood tumors in Hail region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in king Khalid hospital, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the period from October 2016 to March 2017. A full coverage of data regarding leukemia and lymphoma were retrieved from the hospital. Obtained data were filled in standard form prior to analysis. The study was approved by ethical committee at college of medicine, university of Hail. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results showed a pattern of childhood leukemia as the most common cancer (60.8%). The prevalence of cancer was found to be higher among males (58.3.7%) than females (41.7%) with a rate of 1.3:1. Most of the children admitted with cancer were from Hail region (63.3%). Majority (41.7%) of cancer children had good prognosis and where discharged home. Conclusion: Hematological malignancies were the most common form of cancer among our patients. The pattern of childhood tumors showed wide variation during the study.