Radiotherapy of childhood malignancies in Nigeria

Abstract

Malignant tumours in children rank fourth after carcinoma of the cervix, breast, and head and neck tumours among the malignancies managed by radiotherapy in Nigeria. Hie management of these tumours constitute a myriad of problems which are probably responsible for the overall poor survival results observed. This paper analyzed and discussed the epidemiology, presentation and radio!herapeutic management of 122 paediatric malignancies seen and managed between 1981-84 at the radiotherapy unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Tilis unit was up till 1986 the only radiotherapy service available in Nigeria and the rest of the Anglophone West African states.