The Evangelismos hospital central nervous system tumor registry: Analysis of 1414 cases (1998-2009)

Abstract

Background:The Evangelismos Hospital central nervous system (CNS) Tumor Registry represents the current effort of the Departments of Neurosurgery and Pathology to collect data for primary and metastatic CNS tumor patients. In the present study, 12-year hospital data (1998-2009) were reviewed and analyzed.Methods:Patients that underwent surgery for CNS tumors for the first time were identified. Histologically confirmed tumor rates by age and gender were compared. Time trends in annual rates for specific tumor types were investigated. In-hospital mortality rates and length of hospital stay were analyzed by age and gender and their putative variations across the study period investigated.Results:A total of 1414 patients (age 15-89 years) were identified. The most frequently encountered histologies were gliomas and meningiomas, accounting for, respectively, 32.8% and 29.1% of the total sample. A greater proportion of meningiomas was found in women; the proportion of glioblastomas and metastatic tumors, as well as of mixed gliomas, were greater in men. Increased rates of glioblastoma and meningioma with advancing age at diagnosis were also apparent. There were no significant variations in time trends for specific tumor types. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher for older patients (≥70 years). An increase in the length of hospital stay was apparent between the first and middle third of the study period.Conclusions:Analysis of tumor rates in relation to age at diagnosis and gender showed significant bias in accordance with salient literature. Available data indicated no significant variations in time trends for specific tumor types across the study period, while an adverse effect of advanced age on in-hospital mortality was shown. The present findings can guide the formulation of future treatment programs and preventive strategies and provide the basis for further intra- and/or interdepartmental research.

Trends in hospital stay and outcome of CNS tumor patients in Greece during the socioeconomic crisis period (2010–2018): The case of the academic neurosurgical department at Evangelismos Hospital

“…Our previous 12-year (1998–2009) analysis from the highest volume national academic department (Neurosurgery, Evangelismos Hospital, Greece) provided hospitalization times and in-hospital mortality (IHM) rates on adult CNS tumors patients. [ 6 ] Our study indicated relatively high estimates for both parameters that were similar to those from low-volume US centers. [ 6 ]…”

“…[ 6 ] Our study indicated relatively high estimates for both parameters that were similar to those from low-volume US centers. [ 6 ]…”

“…The relative frequencies [ Figure 1a ] of major CNS tumor types do not display substantial (i.e., >5%) differences in comparison to our previous study. [ 6 ] Interestingly, while overall IHM rates (5.7%) are largely unaltered and hospitalization times (median: 13 days) are slightly reduced in comparison to our previous analysis, it is noteworthy that both indices display a clear downward trend [ Figure 1b ], reaching nadirs during the last study year (of 1.9% and 11 days, respectively). At the same time, a steady rise in treated patients across the study period is apparent [ Figure 1c ].…”

“…Based on the same tumor registry (ECTR[ 6 ]), we have recently conducted analogous analysis on newly diagnosed CNS tumor patients, covering the period between 2010 and 2018 ( n = 1785). This period was marked by a national socioeconomic crisis which was characterized by substantial reductions in health-care spending,[ 2 ] an issue that had previously raised concerns over the efficiency and quality of health-care provision in the surgical field.…”