Clinical Profile of Pediatric Solid Tumors: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in Ethiopia

Background

Pediatric solid tumors are a significant health challenge worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia, where healthcare infrastructure is limited and treatment modalities are scarce.

Aims

This study aims to understand the epidemiological characteristics of these tumors and short-term treatment outcomes.

Methods and Results

A retrospective study spanning a period of 2 years and 8 months was conducted among all children below age 15 years admitted to St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College hemato-oncology unit with a pediatric solid tumor. Data from patient charts was extrapolated and analyzed using SPSS version 29. A total of 173 pediatric solid tumor patients were identified over the study period. 22.6% of patients were treated in the first year, 34.6% of patients were treated in the second year, and 42.8% of patients were treated in the last 8 months of the study period. 56.1% of them were males. Most patients came from the Oromia region. The most frequent solid tumors were retinoblastoma, Wilms tumor, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Eighty-six patients are still on treatment, 23 patients achieved complete remission, 4 relapsed, 2 were defaulters, 5 patients were lost to follow-up, 21 died, 5 were referred to other hospitals, and 10 opted against treatment.

Conclusion

The study reveals a rising trend in childhood solid tumor cases over the years. A significant proportion of patients achieved remission, whereas most remain under treatment or follow-up care. A relatively small percentage experienced relapses, with some cases of defaulters, loss to follow-up, and a few instances of mortality. Implementing early detection strategies and community-based awareness programs could improve outcomes by encouraging timely diagnosis and intervention.