Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric solid tumours at Sultan Agung Islamic Hospital (2018–2023)

A tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue that does not contain cysts or fluid. According to the Global Cancer Statistics, approximately 275,000 children worldwide were diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Among pediatric solid tumours, the most common types include neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma. This study aims to analyse the prevalence and characteristics of solid tumours in children treated at Sultan Agung Islamic Hospital in Semarang. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed, utilising retrospective data from medical records. The study population comprised pediatric inpatients and outpatients aged 0 to 17 years who underwent pathological or radiological examinations between 2018 and 2024. Data analysed included demographic details (age, gender), presenting symptoms, and blood test results. The study identified 22 pediatric patients with solid tumours, with Rhabdomyosarcoma and Teratoma being the most common types. The gender distribution was evenly split between males and females. Notably, 73% of the patients showed recovery. Common presenting symptoms included palpable lumps (45%) and pain (41%). Blood tests revealed that haemoglobin levels in children aged 2-9 years were below the usual lower limit (8.21 ± 4.88 g/dL). White blood cell counts in the same age group were abnormal, averaging 11.20 ± 8.36  103/µL. Platelet counts across the age span of 1 month to 17 years were elevated, with a mean of 412.33 ± 224.11 103/µL. In conclusion, the supporting laboratory examinations frequently indicated anaemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis among pediatric tumour patients. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive diagnostic assessments in managing pediatric solid tumours.