Incidence of Primary Brain Tumors: A Hospital Based Study of 200 Cases

Abstract

Object:  The main objective of this study was to determine the incidence of primary brain tumors. It’s a hospital based study, which was conducted in the department of Neurosurgery Nishtar Hospital, Multan between 1996 and 1999.

Patients of either sex were included in the study on the basis of history, clinical evaluation, laboratory and imaging investigations. The patients were admitted from outpatient department and by referrals from other medical units. After admission in the unit a uniform protocol of history taking, clinical and neurological examination, investigations and histopathological diagnosis was adopted for each patient. The information thus gathered was entered in a pro forma. The data analysed were age, sex, histological type, frequency and intracranial location of tumors.

Results:  Among the 200 patients with primary brain tumors, there were 133 (66.5%) male and 67 (33.5%) female patients; the ratio being 1.98. The mean patient age was 33 years. The 31-40-year-old age bracket was found to be most highly represented, corresponding to 22.5% of total patients. In the younger age group, there were 34 (17%) male and 10 (5%) female patients, the ratio being 3.4 and the age mean of the patients was 7.6 years, with the range of 12 months to 15 years. 

Conclusion:  The overall results conclude that primary brain tumors are more prevalent in males, with the age range of 31 and 50 years. Astrocytic tumors are the most frequent type of brain tumors with overall predilection for supratentorial compartment. Meningiomas and acoustic neuromas are rare in children.