Primary Bone Tumours at a Tertiary Health Centre in North Central Nigeria: A Ten Year Retrospective Review

Aims: This study is aimed at documenting the histopathological pattern of primary bone tumours in a tertiary health care centre in North Central Nigeria. These tumours are classified based on their biological nature and histological types. The gender distribution, age distribution and anatomical site of occurrence were also documented.

Study Design: This is a hospital-based retrospective and descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Histopathology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State in North-Central Nigeria between 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2015.

Materials and Methods: We reviewed all histopathologically diagnosed primary bone tumours diagnosed at the Department of histopathology Jos University Teaching Hospital from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2015. Corresponding patient demographic data such as age, sex and anatomical site involved were obtained from case files, surgical pathology records and the cancer registry. Archived slides and re-cut slides from tissue blocks were reviewed.

Results: A hundred and twenty-eight cases were included in the study, amounting to approximately 13 cases per year. Benign tumours accounted for 64.8% of cases while 35.2% were malignant. The commonest benign bone tumours diagnosed are Osteochondroma (27.7% of benign lesions) and Fibrous dysplasia (25% of benign lesions). Osteosarcoma was the commonest malignant bone lesion accounting for 55.5% of the malignant lesions. The second decade was the peak period of occurrence of both benign and malignant bone tumours. There was an overall male predominance and the commonest bones affected were the tibia, femur and craniofacial bones.

Conclusion: Primary bone tumours demonstrated a tendency to occur more commonly in young patients with the male gender more frequently affected. The long bones of the lower limb and craniofacial bones were commonly involved.