A Reappraisal of the Management of Common Childhood Abdominal Malignancies in Ibadan

Abstract

Summary: The relative frequency of neoplastic diseases causing gross abdominal tumours in childhood at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, between 1969 and 1978, was studied. Among 424 cases of malignant conditions identified, 297 occurred in the abdomen and these included 190 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), 61 of Wilm's Tumour (WT) and 36 of neuroblastoma (NBA). Less common abdominal malignancies in the series included rhabdomyosarcoma (4), reticulosis (3), hepatoblastoma (2) and hepatoma (1). The mortality rates for BL, WT and NBA were 96%,93% and 100% respectively. Survival was longer than 6 months in only 16%, 9% and 14.6% respectively, among BL, WT and NBA patients. These mortality and survival rates were not better than those previously reported from the same institution; they were, indeed, inferior to those reported from other parts of the world. A mortality rate of 42% and survival of over 6 months was observed in 42% of 19 BL patients who were treated prospectively with combination chemotherapy, Improvement in the management of childhood abdominal malignancies is advocated since, with appropriate management, two of the three most common of these diseases are curable in a high percentage of the patients.