Prevalence of Small Round Cell Tumors in Pediatric Age Group in the last 10 Years Registered in Al- Najaf Governorate

Abstract

Malignant small round cell tumors (MSRCT) are referred to as tumors made up of malignant small round cells. The cells in this type of neoplasms are tiny, rounded, and largely undifferentiated. Ewing's sarcoma (ES), peripheral neuroectodermal tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, and nephroblastoma are a few of the more common ones. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and types of pediatric small round cell tumors in Najaf Province/Iraq, over the 10 years period between 2010-2019.

Method: This is a retrospective observational study. Cases were collected from pathology laboratories in As-Sadr Medical City and some private laboratories in Najaf over a 10 year-period extending from 2010 to 2019.

Results: A 6366 pediatric surgical biopsy cases were reported during the study period and this represent 8.7% of all cases. Out of these cases, 108 cases with small round cell tumors (SRCT) have given a prevalence rate of 17 per 1000 pediatric cases and 1.5 per 1000 of total (73504) adult and pediatric cases during the same period. The mean age of these SRCT cases was 6.3± 1.6 (range: one month-19) years. The higher proportion of cases was reported in the age of 1-5 years, contributed for 43.5%. Male to female ratio is 59/108 vs. 49/108, respectively, the male to female ratio being at 1.2 to 1.0.

Conclusions: The mean age of SRCTs cases was 6.3± 1.6, ranging from one month to 19 years. The higher proportion of SRCTs cases was reported in the age ranging from 1-5 years; with a ratio of males to females being 1.2 to 1.0.