All issues > Volume 26(5); 1983

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1983;26(5):489-498. Published online May 31, 1983.

A Study on Frequency of Malignant Tumors in Children.

Chang Yee Hong¹, Hyo Seop Ahn¹, Byung Kwan Sohn¹, Son Moon Shin¹, In Sil Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

Five hundred and thirty-nine cases of malignant tumors (excluding leukemia) under 15 years of age who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital from January 1967 to December 1981 were reviewed and analysed. Three hundred and ninety-nine cases of leukemia were seen during the same period and total 938 cases of malignancies including leukemia were observed. 1. The frequency of malignant tumors among total pediatric inpatients was 1.59 percent (2.73 percent, if leukemia is included). There was no significant annual increase in number. of cases related to total inpatients during the 15 years of period. 2. The most common malignant tumor was that of central nervous system (12.8%), and lymphoma (10.3%) and neuroblastoma (6.6%) were the next in order. 3. The male to female ratio was 1.7 : 1. Boys were more prevalent than girls in central nervous system tumors, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, hepatoma, and gonadal and germ cell tumors. 4. About a half of the cases were under 5 years of age. In neuroblastoma, Wilms` tumor,retinoblastoma, hepatoma, and gonadal and germ cell tumor, the peak incidence was under 5 years of age while in bone tumors about two-third of the patients were older than 10 years of age. 5. Among central nervous system tumors medulloblastoma was the most common (16.7%), and astrocytoma (14.2%) and craniopharyngiom (9.2%) were the next in order. 6. Comparing the relative frequency of each type of malignant lymphoma to that of U.S.A”. Hodgkin’s disease was less frequent. 7. Embryonal carcinoma (31%) and endodermal sinus tumor (31%) were the most common, type of gonadal and germ cell tumors. 8. Osteosarcoma (52.9%) was the most prevalent bone tumor in childhood which was followed by Ewing’s sarcoma (32.4%). 9. Retinoblastoma and hepatoma were relatively more prevalent compared to U.S.A, and.European countries.

Keywords :Childhood Solid tumor; incidence.