Brain tumours in the Western Cape Province of South Africa : a plea for a dedicated brain tumour registry in Africa

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on brain tumours provides valuable insight into risk factors, treatment modalities and prognoses of these tumours. Despite abundant epidemiological data from brain tumour registries in high-income countries, a critical data gap persists in low- and middle-income countries.

AIM: The aim of this study was to report on the epidemiology of brain tumours in South Africa's Western Cape province.

METHODS: This retrospective study collected data from the National Health Laboratory Services database housed in the public healthcare sector in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. All pathology reports over 2 years (January 2018 to December 2019) that included the term “brain” or equivalent terms were analyzed to compile the epidemiological dataset.

RESULTS: The dataset yielded 505 patients with brain tumours, with a mean age at diagnosis of 44 years (range: 0–82 years). A noteworthy subset (16%) of primary tumours occurred in individuals under 20 years of age. The top three primary tumour diagnoses in the study were gliomas, glioneuronal and neuronal tumours, meningiomas and pituitary tumours. Secondary brain tumours (18%) constituted a significant proportion of brain tumours, with lung and breast being the most common primary sites. Comparison with registries and audits from both high- and low-income countries revealed South Africa's unique landscape; ependymal tumours exhibited a substantial proportion, while nerve sheath tumours displayed a reduced proportion.

CONCLUSION: This study offers a unique perspective on brain tumour epidemiology in South Africa's Western Cape Province. It reports on unique trends and emphasizes the feasibility and necessity of establishing a dedicated brain tumour registry.