CLINICAL PROFILE OF PEDIATRIC SOLID TUMORS AT SPHMMC.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Pediatric solid tumors are a significant health challenge worldwide. Understanding the clinical profile and pattern of these tumors is crucial to provide timely and appropriate treatment to patients. Moreover, evaluating the treatment outcome of pediatric solid tumors is essential to determine the efficacy of different treatment modalities. Objective: The purpose of the study was to study the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of children with solid tumors at SPHMMC. Methods: an institution-based cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using a structured and standardized questionnaire. Histologically proven solid tumors who were registered at SPHMMC Hematology and Oncology unit, between March 2021 to December 2023 was included in the study. Descriptive and analytical statistics was employed. Result: There are a total of 173 pediatric solid tumor patients. 56.1% of them were males. Most patients came from Oromia region. The most frequent solid tumors were retinoblastoma, Wilm’s tumor and Rhabdomyosarcoma . 86 patients are still on treatment, 23 patients went into complete remission, 4 relapse, 2 were defaulters, 5 lost from follow- up , 21 died, 5 refered to other hospital , 10 left against medical advice. Conclusion: The study revealed a diverse array of patients, encompassing various ages, genders, geographic locations, and tumour types. Among the diagnoses, prevalent tumours included retinoblastoma, Wilm's tumour, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy appeared as the primary treatment approach, often complemented by surgery or other adjunctive therapies tailored to the specific tumour type and its stage. A significant portion of patients achieved remission, while the majority are still undergoing treatment or follow-up care. There are a small percentage of relapse, defaulters and loss to follow-up with mortality rates were observed. These findings emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care for paediatric oncology patients. Early detection strategies and community-based awareness programs aimed at promoting early presentation to healthcare facilities could potentially improve outcomes by facilitating timely diagnosis and intervention. Such collaboration should encompass coordinated efforts in diagnosis, treatment planning, psychosocial support, and survivorship care. Keywords: clinical profile, outcomes of treatment, pediatric solid tumors