ABSTRACT
Using the Tanzania Cancer Registry, the pattern of childhood malignancies up to the age of 15 years over a period of 22 years (1973-1995) was analysed. Lymphomas were most frequent (38.9%) followed by soft tissue sarcomas (13.1%), retinoblastomas (11.1%) and squamous cell carcinoma (6.7%). The frequency of soft tissue sarcomas is relatively high but appears not to be related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection pandemic. The high frequency of squamous cell carcinoma also needs further investigation.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adolescent , Age Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Developing Countries , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Morbidity , Neoplasms/pathology , Population Surveillance , Registries , Sex Distribution , Tanzania/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A study was done using the Tanzania cancer registry to study the pattern of malignancies in children aged 0-15 years; covering a period of 15 year (1973-1988). Lymphomas were the most frequent tumors seen in the study (39.8 percent) followed by soft tissue sarcomas (12 percent) retinoblastoma (10.6 percent) and squamous cell carcinoma (6.7 percent). The frequency of soft tissue sarcoma of 12 percent is exceptionally high and this appears not to be related to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection pandemic. The high frequency of squamous cell carcinoma of 6.7 percent has not been reported before and probably needs further study