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Brain Metastases in Havana Cancer Patients
Joel Caballero-García1, Rosainerys Jiménez-Martínez2, Adolfo M Giol-Álvarez3
1National Oncology and Radiobiology Institute (INOR), Havana, Cuba.
Insights
Brain metastases are more common in this Cuban municipality than previously reported, affecting 23% of cancer patients. Early detection of brain metastases is crucial for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cancer poses a significant global and Cuban public health challenge.
- Brain metastases affect approximately one-third of cancer patients.
- Epidemiological data on brain metastases, particularly in Cuba, are limited, with most research based on autopsy or case series.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize brain metastases patients in Habana del Este Municipality, Havana, Cuba.
- To analyze demographics, primary tumor sites, and metastasis locations.
- To provide foundational epidemiological data for this specific Cuban population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive study of cancer patients diagnosed in 2014.
- Utilized computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging reports.
- Analyzed variables including age, sex, metastasis location, and primary tumor site.
Main Results:
- Identified 832 cancer patients; 23% (191/832) had brain metastases.
- Prevalence of brain metastases was 105.2 per 100,000 population.
- Most affected: females (61.3%), aged 41-60 (48.2%), with multiple metastases (59.7%).
- Common primary sites: breast (40.8%) and lung (31.9%). Parietal lobe was the most frequent metastasis site (46.8%).
Conclusions:
- Brain metastases prevalence in this Cuban municipality exceeds international reports.
- Brain metastases represent a higher proportion of cancer cases compared to other population studies.
- Emphasizes the need for early brain metastasis detection to improve quality of life and survival.
Introduction:
Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and in Cuba. Approximately one third of cancer patients develop a brain metastasis. Despite this, epidemiological studies are scarce, internationally and in Cuba; published research is mainly limited to autopsy studies and hospital case series.
Objective:
Characterize patients with brain metastases residing in Habana del Este Municipality, Havana, Cuba, with respect to demographics, metastasis location and primary tumor site.
Methods:
A retrospective descriptive study was carried out with data for all patients with histologically confirmed cancer diagnosed in 2014 and registered in primary health care in Habana del Este Municipality. Diagnostic reports from computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were used to identify patients with brain metastases. Study variables were age, sex, skin color, number and location of brain metastases, control of primary tumor, and presence of extracranial metastases. Percentages were calculated and presented in tables.
Results:
We identified 832 cancer patients in the Habana del Este population of 181,473 (prevalence 458.5 per 100,000 population). Among patients with cancer, 27.6% (230/832) had brain tumors, among which 83% (191/230) were brain metastases and 17% (39/230) primary tumors, a ratio of 4.9:1. Brain metastases appeared in 23% (191/832) of cancer patients (prevalence 105.2 per 100,000 population). Among patients with brain metastases, 48.2% (92/191) were aged 41-60 years and 61.3% (117/191) were female sex. The majority, 59.7% (114/191) had multiple metastases. The most frequent primary tumor location was the breast (40.8%, 78/191), followed by the lung (31.9%; 61/191); 46.8% (211/451) of brain metastases were in the parietal lobe.
Conclusions:
Brain metastases are more prevalent in this Cuban municipality than reported in other countries, but they constitute a higher proportion of cancer cases than seen in other population-based studies. The study's results underline the importance of detecting brain metastasis early, to permit timely interventions to improve quality of life and survival.
Contribution Of This Research:
This is the first epidemiological study of brain metastases in Cuba and one of the few carried out internationally.
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