Epidemiology of bone tumors in children and adolescents: a retrospective study of 266 patients in the south of Tunisia

Abstract

Although bone tumors (BT) are relatively uncommon among the human neoplasm, they constitute the most frequent tumors in children and adolescents (CAA). Little information is available about the epidemiologic features of BT in CAA. We aimed to present and discuss epidemiological characteristics of BT in CAA in southern Tunisia, regarding the different histological types. This is a retrospective study including cases of BT in CAA collected in the pathology department at the Habib Bourguiba university hospital over a period of 15 years (2006- 2020). A total of 266 BT was diagnosed in our institution (42,7% among all BT in Southern Tunisia) divided into 200 benign bone tumors (BBT) (75,2%) and 66 malignant bone tumors (MBT) (24,8%). The mean age for all BT was 14,2 years (3-20 years) with male predominance (sex ratio: 1,48). The most common tumor was osteochondroma (42.2%) followed by osteosarcoma (14.6%) and Ewing sarcoma (6.4%). For BBT, the most affected age group was the 16 to 20 year - old - group (50,7%) with a male predominance (59.8%) and a predilection for lower limb (66.8%) then the upper limb (16,8%). Osteochondroma was the most common histological type (56.5%) followed by aneuvrysmal cyst (8,5%) and osteoid osteoma (6,5%). For MBT, the mean age was 12,5 years (5-20 years) and the most affected age group was the 11 to 15 year -old -group (59%). Boys were more affected (60.6%), with a preference for the lower limb (57%) followed by the pelvis (15,6%). Osteosarcoma was the most common MBT (60%) followed by Ewing sarcoma (24%). Given their rarity and heterogeneity, the diagnosis of BT is particular in CAA and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The reporting of epidemiological studies remains essential in order to expand our knowledge regarding these uncommon tumors.