Childhood cancer in a tertiary care hospital in Madrid. Evolution of survival. Years 1999-2016

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children. Some epidemiological aspects of childhood cancer obtained from the Tumour Registry of a tertiary care hospital in Madrid are detailed, in order to provide useful information for the management of cancer in this group of patients. Descriptive and retrospective analysis of the data from the Hospital's Tumour Registry (period 1999-2016), with the aim of analysing the incidence (overall, and by diagnostic categories) and survival (overall, by diagnostic groups and cohorts of years of diagnosis) of childhood cancer. A total of 769 childhood tumours were registered between 1999 and 2016, 431 in boys and 338 in girls. The most common neoplasms were central nervous system tumours (32.5%), leukaemias, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative syndromes (19%); lymphomas (15%), and neuroblastomas (7.5%). Overall 5-year survival was 78%. Five-year survival of these diagnostic categories was 74% (67-81%) for central nervous system tumours; 80% (72-88%) for leukaemias, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative syndromes; 87% (80-95%) for lymphomas and reticuloendothelial neoplasms; and 68% (53-84%) for neuroblastomas and other peripheral nerve cells tumours. The comparison between two diagnostic cohorts (1999-2004 vs 2005-2010) showed an increase in survival in the most recent cohort, which was only statistically significant in central nervous system tumours. These results are similar to those of the Spanish Register of Childhood Tumours. The information provided by the Tumour Registries is necessary for greater knowledge of cancer and to ensure the quality of care for cancer patients.