A retrospective review on the histopathological pattern of childhood malignant solid tumors in Ethiopia

Abstract

In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), malignancies remain underreported due to lack of quality data. This study outlines the histopathological pattern of pediatric solid malignancies in children aged 0-15 years at the largest referral hospital in Ethiopia. A total of 432 solid malignancies were evaluated. The most common malignancies were lymphoma (21.8%), retinoblastoma (19.4%), and Wilms tumor (13.9%).Burkitt lymphoma accounted for 2.1%, despite being the most reported pediatric malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa in published literature. Definitive diagnosis could not be made in 7% of cases, related to the lack of confirmatory testing. The study highlights the need for improvement in diagnostic capabilities in LMICs.