Abstract
Introduction: Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are primary or secondary neoplasms located within the craniovertebral cavity. The incidence of CNS tumors is not uniform with variation between different countries, age groups and races. Objective: Our study aim was to generate new knowledge of the epidemiology of central nervous system tumors in Rwanda. Method: This was an observational retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with CNS tumors in Rwanda over a period of 10 years, from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2015. Results: 466 patients enrolled, (52.2% females, 47.8% males). The median age at diagnosis of was 37 years. Brain tumors were 82.7%; spine tumor patients were 16.4%. The average annual age-standardized incidence of CNS tumors was 0.43/100, 0000 person-years and varied with age groups. Tumors of meningothelial cells represented the majority of brain tumors (31.8%). Metastatic tumors were the far most common spine tumors category. 55.8 % of CNS tumors reported in our study were histologically confirmed and of nonmalignant meningiomas were the commonest (33.9%). Conclusion: This is the very first study done on epidemiology of CNS tumors in Rwanda, and generated data about incidence of CNS tumors in Rwanda and their location and histological distribution.
Highlights
Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are primary or secondary neoplasms located within the craniovertebral cavity
CNS tumors represent a small proportion of all cancers and cancer-related mortality, most of the brain tumors are malignant and fatal and both malignant and benign brain tumors can cause significant neurological deficits that interfere with activities of daily living
The study was conducted at the Rwanda Neurosurgical Centre, the unique neurosurgery center in Rwanda run by two neurosurgical services of two referral hospitals—Kigali University Teaching Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali [Centre Hospitalier Univeristaire de Kigali CHUB (CHUK)]) and King Faisal Hospital (KFH) – and in the three anatomopathology departments of the following 3 referral hospitals of the country: KFH, CHUK, and Butare University Teaching Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Butare [CHUB])
Summary
Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are primary or secondary neoplasms located within the craniovertebral cavity. Brain tumors were 82.7%; spine tumor patients were 16.4%. Conclusion: This is the very first study done on epidemiology of CNS tumors in Rwanda, and generated data about incidence of CNS tumors in Rwanda and their location and histological distribution. Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are primary or secondary neoplasms located within the craniovertebral cavity [1]. Primary brain tumors are the most common solid tumors among patients aged
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