An 8-YEAR analysis of bone tumours in a Caribbean island

Michael J Ramdass; Justin Mooteeram; Allan Beharry; Marlon Mencia; Shaheeba Barrow

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2015.10.009

An 8-YEAR analysis of bone tumours in a Caribbean island

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2015 Oct 22;4(4):414-6. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2015.10.009. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Authors

Michael J Ramdass¹, Justin Mooteeram¹, Allan Beharry¹, Marlon Mencia¹, Shaheeba Barrow¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.

Abstract

Background: An epidemiologic analysis of bone tumours in Trinidad & Tobago.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of primary and secondary bone tumours, site of origin and demographic data was conducted.

Results: 63 bone tumours were analysed and included 27 primary benign (43%), 12 primary malignant (19%), 19 metastatic (30%) and 5 by contiguous spread (8%). The most common malignant primary tumour was the osteosarcoma (n = 7), originating from the femur in mostly males in the 11-20 age group. There was 1 chondrosarcoma, 2 fibrosarcomas and 2 plasmacytomas. Benign tumours consisted of 8 osteochondromas, 2 osteomas, 3 giant cell tumours, 3 bone cysts and 11 cases of fibrous dysplasia.

Conclusion: Bone tumours are rare with a low incidence of 1.125 per 100,000 population annually and malignant tumours being even rarer at an incidence of 0.18 per 100,000 population annually. There is need for better documentation and data registries in Trinidad and Tobago.

Keywords: Bone tumours; Caribbean.