[Central nervous system tumours in Cameroon: histopathology and demography]

Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) have not received much scientific attention in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the central African zone. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency and different histologic types of CNS tumours seen in the neurosurgery units of Cameroon, a multiethnic country of central Africa. This retrospective study covers the decade from January 1996 through December 2006 in the three neurosurgery departments in Cameroon, at the Yaoundé General Hospital, the Yaoundé Central Hospital, and the Douala General Hospital.

All cases undergoing surgery in these units for a histologically-confirmed CNS tumour. There were 231 cases with complete files, accounting for 6.3% of total admissions in the various units. Patients' mean age was 46.3+/-20.6 years (range: 2 weeks to 74 years); the male/female ratio was 0.8. Paediatric patients made up 15.1% (n=35) of the population while adults comprised 84.9% (n=196). In all, 74.9% (n=173) of the tumours were intracranial and 25.1% (n=58) spinal; 167 (72.3%) were the primary site and 64 (27.7%) metastatic. The average age of patients with metastatic tumors was 42+/-18.5 years compared with 36.5+/-17.8 years for cases with primary tumors. Primary tumors were malignant in 34.2% (n=12) of the children and benign in 65.8% (n=23); among adults 22.7% (n=30) were malignant and 77.3% (n=102) benign. Meningiomas were the most frequent tumours in our series, with 56 (24.2%) cases, followed by 42 astrocytomas (18.1%). Most patients were younger than 55 years. In conclusion, CNS tumors occurred mainly before the age of 55 years and had a slight predilection for girls and women. Meningiomas were the most frequent tumors in adults while astrocytomas were more prevalent in children.