Childhood cancer burden in part of eastern India--Population Based Cancer Registry data for Kolkata (1997-2004).

The increasing magnitude of childhood cancer has become a threatening problem in developing countries like India. Data from the Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata during 1997 to 2004 were here analyzed. CNCI receives patients from West Bengal as well as other neighboring states and countries. Childhood cancer was found to account for 2.21% of all cancers registered in this period. Crude and age adjusted rates were higher among boys than girls, with leukemia as the commonest (36.8%) followed by lymphomas (14.8%) and soft tissue tumors (8.0%). Chemotherapy was the major modality of treatment given, followed by radiotherapy and surgery. The study provides useful information on the prevalence and management protocols of childhood cancer in this part of eastern India.