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[Epidemiological study of primary brain tumors in the Autonomous Community of Aragon]
Objectives:
a) To analyse diverse clinical features related to the symptomatology, location and anatomopathological diagnosis of primary tumours of the C.N.S. and b) to improve knowledge of the frequency of cerebral tumours in our field of study.
Design:
A protocolized and retrospective study of those patients diagnosed as having a primary cerebral Neoplasia.
Setting:
The Autonomous Community of Aragon during the decade from 1980 to 1990.
Patients And Other Participants:
Our total sample consisted of 759 tumours, 412 (54.28%) in men and 347 (45.72%) in women. Our criterion for inclusion was a diagnosis of primary cerebral Neoplasia, excluding Metastasis and vascular tumours.
Measurements And Main Results:
The majority of the cerebral tumours were located in the cerebral hemispheres (56%): migraine was the most common symptom. We confirmed that the occurrence of cerebral tumours was higher in urban than in rural zones. However the age at which these neoplastic intracranial processes present is greater in rural zones. For 67% of patients 4.5 months had to pass before it was possible to establish the diagnosis of expansive intracranial process.
Conclusions:
a) Migraine is the most common clinical manifestation (20%), followed by a disturbance of the higher functions (15%). b) There is considerable delay in the time needed to establish the diagnosis of expansive intracranial process, due to the present health-care framework. c) The occurrence of cerebral tumours is higher in urban than in rural zones.