Spectrum of intracranial tumours in a tertiary health carefacility: our findings

INTRODUCTION: Primary brain tumours are uncommon with an annual incidence of 5-10/100000. This study has attempted to analyse the histological pattern of intracranial tumours seen in our centre. METHODS: A retrospective study of cases of intracranial tumours seen was conducted over a period of 5 years ie from January 2008 to December 2012. All the slides were reviewed. The age, sex, diagnosis using the WHO grading and the histological subtypes were recorded. Data were analysed using the (SPSS) Software version 17. RESULTS: Altogether, 56 cases of intracranial tumours were seen out of a total of 12,610biopsies representing 0.004%. The male to female ratio (M: F) was approximately 1:1.1The mean age of the patients was 36 ± 20.35 (range, 2 to 85). Astrocytomas accounted for 30% (17)while 29% (16) had Meningioma. Medulloblastoma accounted for 18%.(10). Of the cases of Gliomas, majority(52%) fell under WHO grade II. (38%)of the Meningioma were of the mixed type while 25% had transitional type. CONCLUSION: Astrocytomas was the commonest brain tumour. These patterns corroboratedmost studies that have been done. Metastasis to the brain was however, not seen in this study.