Pattern and Distribution of Primary Bone Tumours in Jos Nigeria

Abstract

Bone tumours have been noticed to be on the increase Africa. The incidence of these tumours initially thought , to be uncommon in our environment has been on the rise. These tumours like those in any other part of the body are better managed with early diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The study was aimed at determining the pattern of presentation of bone tumours , with a view to determining the commonest types , the most involved sites of the body and the age of presentation of these tumuors.This was a retrospective study carried out at the Jos university teaching hospital. The study covered a period of ten years from 2000 to 2010. From the cancer registry at the hospital, and case folders of the patients information of patients as regards the histological type of the bone tumour, the age and sex of the patients and the site of involvement were obtained.A Total of 103 bone tumours were seen over the study period. The mean age of presentation was 29.4years+/- 16.9 years with an age range of 3 to 75 years. Benign bone tumoursaccounted for67(66.3%) of the tumours while malignant tumours were 36(33.7%) of the tumours.The benign tumours consisted of,osteochondroma 12(17.9%), Giant cell tumour 12(17.9%), fibrous histiocytoma 11(16.4%) and osteoid osteoma7 (12%) , while the malignant variety were osteosarcoma 17(50%),fibrosarcoma 10(29.4%) andChondrosarcoma 4 (11%) . The anatomical regional location of the benigntumourswere ; tibia 13(19.4%), femur 13 (19.4%) .While that of the malignant variety were; femur 10(29.4%) ,tibia 9(26.4%). Benign bone tumours make up about two thirds of the bone tumours in our environment while the rest are malignant, with osteochondroma and giant cell tuomours making up the bulk of the benign tumours and osteosarcoma the most common malignant type. The femur and the tibia were the sites mostly affected by bone tumours.