Incidence of the Histological Types of Tumors of the Central Nervous System ? A Hospital Based Study

Background The tumors of the Central nervous system (CNS) include tumors of the brain and spinal cord. Primary CNS tumors are not common. However the incidence of CNS tumors has been rapidly increasing at recent times.1 Aims and Objectives The aims of this study were to determine the relative frequencies of tumors of central nervous system (CNS), their age and sex distribution. It was a hospital based study. Methods The study group comprises of a total of 60 cases of tumors of CNS who have been clinically and radiologically diagnosed as such in the department of Neurosurgery, department of Pediatric surgery and department of General surgery in GMCH. The patients are of all ages and both sexes who have been operated for clinically indicated reasons. Result CNS tumors are more common in adults with 50 cases (83 %) than children with 10 cases (17 %). Tumors of the CNS are more common in males than females in both children (19 years) and adults (greater than19 years) with a MF ratio of 1.51 and 1.171 respectively. In adults meningioma was the commonest histology among all primary CNS tumors with 22 cases (44 %). In children astrocytomas were found to be the commonest with 6 cases (60 %). In adults the most common site of CNS tumor was found to be meninges ( 23 cases, 46 %). In children the most common site was cerebellum (6 cases, 60 %). Intracranial tumors were more common with 48 cases (80 %) than spinal cord tumors with 12 cases (20 %). Among the spinal cord tumors meningioma was the most common (8 cases, 66.7 %) followed by schwannoma (3 cases, 25 %) and ependymoma (1 case, 8.3 %). Conclusion CNS tumours vary considerably in their histological and gender distribution throughout childhood and adulthood. CNS tumors in adults have a relatively high frequency as compared to children. Even though most patients with high grade gliomas have a dismal prognosis, long-time survivors are seen in all histologic groups and illustrate the heterogeneity of these tumors.2