Epidemiological profile of brain tumors in Cameroon: a retrospective study

• Published in: The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Motah, Mathieu, Gams Massi, Daniel, Fouda Bekolo, Fabien, Akweseh Nju, Nkemontoh, Ndoumbe, Aurélien, Moumi, Mireille, Sango, Anne, Shu, Paul, Eyenga, Victor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 17.09.2021; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Age; Astrocytoma; Biopsy; Brain cancer; Brain research; Brain tumors; Cameroon; Data collection; Epidemiology; Females; Gender; Hospitals; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meningioma; Metastasis; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Patients; Pituitary adenoma; Psychiatry; Radiation therapy; Tumors; Cameroon; Cameroon; Epidemiology; Brain tumors; Meningioma; Astrocytoma; Pituitary adenoma
• ISSN: 1110-1083; 1687-8329
• DOI: 10.1186/s41983-021-00381-6

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.