An Insight into the Most Common Cancers in Children Under the Age of 10 Years in Kurdistan, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Childhood cancers are a leading cause of death by disease beyond infancy. In developed countries, leukemia is the most common, followed by brain tumors and lymphomas, while in developing regions, lymphomas and nephroblastoma are more prevalent. This study investigates the patterns in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The study aims to identify the five most common cancers in children under 10 in Kurdistan and analyze their incidence to encourage further research and support for affected children. This cross-sectional study used data from Erbil’s cancer registry, covering pediatric cases from January 2015 to January 2019. The data, analyzed by age group and cancer type, were accessed with ethical approval from local health authorities. Among 374 cases, leukemia was the most common cancer (32%), followed by complex mixed and stromal neoplasm (13%), lymphoma (13%), neuroepitheliomatous neoplasm (11%), and glioma (7%). There were 210 male and 163 female cases. The study offers insight into childhood cancers in Kurdistan, highlighting areas for further research and resource allocation.