Epidemiological profile of brain tumors in Cameroon: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background Brain tumors represent group of neoplasms originating from intracranial tissues and the meninges. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of brain tumors seen in a referral health center in Cameroon. We carried out a 10-year retrospective study in the neurosurgical, neurology, pathology, oncology and radiotherapy units of our hospital. Results We found 150 complete case files accounting for 0.7% of total admissions in the various units. Males accounted for 50.7% of the cases. Children less than 14 years represented 12.7% of cases (n = 19). Primary brain tumors constituted 92% (n = 138). Most patients with primary brain tumors were between 25 and 54 years of age, making up 57% of cases (n = 79). The most prevalent histological type of brain tumor was meningioma (26%, n = 39), followed by astrocytoma (24.7%, n = 37), and pituitary adenomas (18%, n = 27). The majority of cases presented with signs of raised intracranial pressure with headache being the most frequent symptom (88%). Some patients presented with seizures (34%), neurological deficit (13%), visual disturbances (10%), and cognitive disorders (7%). Conclusion Young adults represent the most affected age group. Meningioma, astrocytoma and pituitary adenomas were the most frequent brain tumors in adults. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term outcome of patients with BTs.

Epidemiology of primary brain tumor among adolescents and adults in Palestine: a retrospective study from 2018 to 2023

“…Headaches, focal signs (motor or sensory signs), and seizures were the most common first signs or symptoms among Palestinian patients. These findings were similar to those reported in a recent study in Cameroon [ 27 ] and Saudi Arabia [ 28 ].…”

“…Meningiomas were the most common group of tumors identified in different studies around the world, including the USA (42.1%) [ 14 ], Korea (37.9%) [ 20 ], Lebanon (29.6%) [ 17 ], Northeast India [ 25 ], and Georgia [ 23 ], while in our study, the most common group of tumors identified in Palestinian adolescents and adults was diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors (33%). In our study, the most commonly identified histopathological type was glioblastoma, while meningioma was the most common histopathological type identified in the USA [ 14 ], Korea [ 20 ], Jordan [ 6 ], Cameroon [ 27 ], and Austria [ 21 ].…”

Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Primary Brain Tumours in North-Eastern Region of India:A Retrospective Single Institution Study

“…In a study of the Indian population, the frequency of brain tumours is highest in the 5th decade, while our study shows the frequency to be highest in the 4th decade [8]. The most common presenting symptom was headache (53%), followed by vomiting (28%), which is comparable to the study of Western population, where headache was the most common symptom [9,11]. In our study and that of the western population, supratentorial tumours predominate over infratentorial tumours [11].…”

“…Recent advances in molecular biology have improved our understanding of glioma pathogenesis, and several clinically significant genetic alterations have been In our study, males (68%) outnumbered females (32%). In studies of the Indian population as well as the western population, the incidence of brain tumours is more common in men [8,9]. Study of brain tumours from North-East Indian population [10] showed the age of incidence was highest in 20-39 years age group which may be compared to that of our study (31-40 years followed by 21-30 years age group).…”

“…In our study, it was found that Glioblastoma and Astrocytomas are the two most common primary brain tumours, while in both the Indian and Western populations, Meningioma and Glioblastoma are the most common primary brain tumours [8,12]. Ependymomas represented 3% of all intracranial neoplasms in this study, which is equal to that in an Indian study [8] and comparable to 2% in western studies [8,9]. In this study, radiology and biopsy were used to make the diagnosis.…”