The need for a central brain tumor registry in Africa: A review of central nervous system tumors in Africa from 1960 to 2017

Abstract

Background Central nervous system (CNS) tumors pose a substantial health problem. Although data on specific time periods and regions of Africa have been previously reported, no study has yet to provide a systematic review of CNS tumors for the entire continent of Africa. This study aims to analyze the frequency of CNS tumors in Africa from 1960 to 2017. Methods A comprehensive literature search on CNS tumors in Africa was performed using multiple online scientific databases. The following keywords were queried in combination with the phrase “CNS tumors in Africa”: incidence, frequency, epidemiology, prevalence, brain, and cancer. A total of 26 articles met the inclusion criteria. Each selected article reported incidence and mortality rates from different regions of Africa in a time period between 1960 and 2017. SPSS21 statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results Nigeria, Egypt, and Uganda were found to have the most of the cases of CNS tumors in Africa. Males made up 54% of the 5902 cases per 100 000 population. The most common CNS tumors found were astrocytoma (24.70%), meningioma (22.22%), pituitary adenoma (8.4%), medulloblastoma (4.26%), craniopharyngioma (4.07%), and other not specified (25.17%). Conclusions Given the large population of Africa, the total reported cases may be underestimated when compared with other continents due to the lack of a central brain tumor registry in Africa. A comprehensive knowledge of CNS tumors in Africa is critical to population-based research and improving the current healthcare system.

Situating Sub-Saharan Africa Within Intra-Operative Innovations in Neurooncology

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The Natural History and Treatment of Meningiomas: An Update

“…1 Map of the distribution of the incidence age-standardized rate of meningiomas worldwide. This map was built based on information provided by Ostrom et al, 3 Holleczek et al, 19 Kang et al, 20 and Mbi Feh et al 21 superior sagittal sinus, as well as cavernous sinus, foramen magnum, tuberculum sellae, torcular Herophili, and lamina cribrosa. Both endogenous and exogenous predisposing factors have been delineated with monosomy of the long arm of chromosome 22 (22q) primarily noted in all meningiomas found in NF2.…”

Prevalence and trends of brain tumors in a national referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

“…However, in institutions where molecular resources are unavailable, histological diagnosis is su cient to diagnose brain tumors (16). There are inadequate and noncomprehensive data on the prevalence of brain tumors, as evidenced by the limited existence of cancer registries, especially for brain tumors in low-and middleincome countries (2,17). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of brain tumors in a national referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.…”