Epidemiology of adult brain tumors in the Philippine General Hospital from 2018 to 2022: Initial steps to a national brain tumor registry in a lower-middle income country.

in Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia by Juan Silvestre G Pascual, Almira A Dayrit, Mary Angeline Luz U Hernandez, Almira Doreen Abigail O Apor, John Carlo B Reyes, Edwin L Munoz, Kathleen Joy O Khu

TLDR

  • A study of brain tumor cases at the largest neurosurgical center in the Philippines from 2018 to 2022 found meningioma and gliomas to be the most common tumor types, with a lower prevalence than global reports likely due to the study's single-center nature.

Abstract

In the Philippines, there is a lack of epidemiological data on brain tumors due to the absence of a national registry. To bridge this gap, our team has set out to review histopathologically-confirmed brain tumor cases from 2018 to 2022 at the largest neurosurgical center in the country. 766 brain tumor cases were identified: 115 in 2018, 173 in 2019, 143 in 2020, 148 in 2021, and 187 in 2022. The crude incidences per year were 0.39, 0.58, 0.48, 0.50 and 0.66 per 100,000 from 2018 to 2022, respectively. The 5-year crude incidence rate was 2.58 per 100,000 persons. The five-year prevalence was 115.00, 266.00, 367.48, 456.39, and 566.30. Among patients, the mean age was 49 years old, with a male:female ratio of 2:3. Most cases were among the 51-60 age group (23.6 %). The most common types were meningioma (46 %) and gliomas, glioneuronal tumors, and neuronal tumors (23 %). Metastasis to the brain accounted for 6.5 % of all brain tumors. In our study, prevalence estimates were lower than globally-reported ones, likely due to its single-center nature. Tumor types approximated international reports, except for brain metastasis frequency. This initial work is a stepping stone for a future national brain tumor registry for the Philippines.

Overview

  • The study aimed to review histopathologically-confirmed brain tumor cases from 2018 to 2022 at the largest neurosurgical center in the Philippines.
  • 766 brain tumor cases were identified, with the 5-year crude incidence rate being 2.58 per 100,000 persons.
  • The primary objective of the study was to provide preliminary epidemiological data on brain tumors in the Philippines, laying the groundwork for a future national brain tumor registry.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study found that the crude incidence rates per year were 0.39, 0.58, 0.48, 0.50, and 0.66 per 100,000 from 2018 to 2022, respectively.
  • The most common types of brain tumors were meningioma (46%) and gliomas, glioneuronal tumors, and neuronal tumors (23%), with metastasis to the brain accounting for 6.5% of all brain tumors.
  • The prevalence estimates were lower than globally-reported ones, likely due to the study's single-center nature, but tumor types approximated international reports, except for brain metastasis frequency.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study's findings provide preliminary epidemiological data on brain tumors in the Philippines and highlight the need for a future national brain tumor registry.
  • A national brain tumor registry would help improve the accuracy and completeness of brain tumor data in the Philippines, allowing for more informed public health decision-making and improved patient care.
  • Future studies could include a larger sample size, multiple centers, and a more comprehensive analysis of tumor types and characteristics to better understand the epidemiology of brain tumors in the Philippines.
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