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
• DOI: 10.1186/s41983-021-00381-6
• ISSN: 1110-1083

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.