[Primary Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Clinical Experience at a Third Level Center]

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a group of neoplasms that originate from various cells in the CNS. The increasing incidence and prevalence of this type of tumor in developing countries are striking; however, there are few current studies in Latin America including Mexico estimating the impact of these pathological entities on the general population.

The objective of the study was to study the characteristics of primary CNS tumors over a period of 52 years.

A review of records from patients with a histopathological diagnosis of CNS neoplasm over a period of 52 years was conducted at a tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients were grouped by sex, age, and the tumor's anatomical location.

A sample of 9615 patients with tumor lesions was obtained; 51% were female, 49% were male, and their mean age was 42 years. The tumors with the highest prevalence were neuroepithelial tumors (38.6%), followed by meningeal tumors (22.8%). Neuroepithelial tumors accounted for 64% in the group of patients under 40 years of age and 56% among those above 40 years of age. The most frequently involved location was supratentorial, in 78.9% of cases.

Although retrospective in nature and based on a small sample, this study reports the epidemiology and characteristics of primary brain tumors in the Mexican population.