The spectrum of childhood neoplasms – Evaluation of 161 cases in surgical pathology department

Although major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the developing world is still malnutrition and infections, pediatric neoplasms are also rising in number. Although pediatric neoplasms occur infrequently, they present a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Unfamiliarity with these conditions may lead to the erroneous diagnosis and unnecessary aggressive therapy. This was a retrospective analysis of 161 cases of pediatric tumors, both benign and malignant, in surgical pathology department excluding neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, and hemato-lymphoid malignancies (age group 0–12 years) encountered over a period of 5 years: January 2004–December 2008. The clinical, radiological, and therapeutic data were obtained from patients’ case paper records. Pattern of childhood tumors was studied with a focus on tumor incidence, age and sex distribution, demographic pattern, and histological type.