A national overview of paediatric and adolescent and young adult surgical neuro-oncology in Pakistan

Authors

  • Faiza Urooj The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan.
  • Mohammad Hamza Bajwa The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Muhammad Usman Khalid The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Mashal Murad Shah The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan.
  • Ahsan Ali Khan The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Ummey Hani  The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan.
  • Altaf Ali Laghari  Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Jaleed Ahmed Gilani The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan.
  • Noyan Jawed The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Muhammad Faraz Raghib The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Saad bin Anis Shaukat Khanum Cancer Memorial Hospital, Lahore
  • Naveed Zaman Akhunzada Rehman Medical Institute, Hayatabad, Peshawar,Pakistan
  • Sameen Siddiqi The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Syed Ather Enam The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.11-S4-AKUB14

Abstract

Objective: To build a comprehensive brain tumour database that will allow us to analyse in detail the prevalence, demographics, and outcomes of the disease in paediatric, adolescent, and young adult age groups.

Method: A national cross-sectional study was conducted at 32 centres, and data regarding patient demographics and brain tumours were collected. This data was then stratified based on age groups, healthcare sectors, socioeconomic status, tumour types, and surgical outcomes.

Result: Most of the patients who were diagnosed with brain tumours belonged to a lower socioeconomic background and went to public sector hospitals. More males were diagnosed with and treated for brain tumours in the paediatric, adolescent, and young adult populations. The most common tumour in the paediatric population was medulloblastoma (23.7%) and the most common tumour in the adolescent (27.8%) and young adult population (34.7%) was glioma. Significant improvement in KPS scores were seen for: craniopharyngioma (p = 0.001), meningioma (p < 0.0005) and pituitary adenoma (p < 0.0005)

Conclusion: This study shows that in all three age groups, there was a greater prevalence in males. Most of the patients belonged to a lower-middle-income class background and most patients presented to public sector hospitals. Greater knowledge of these parameters unique to each age group is the key to understanding and alleviating the burden of disease. Cancer registries, specifically brain tumour registries that keep up-to-date records of these patients, are essential to identify and keep track of these unique parameters to advance medical research and treatment strategies, ultimately lowering the disease burden.

Keywords:  Pediatric, Neuro-oncology, Adolescent and young adult, AYA, Medulloblastoma, Craniopharyngioma, Epidemiology.

Published

2022-12-15

How to Cite

Faiza Urooj, Mohammad Hamza Bajwa, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Mashal Murad Shah, Ahsan Ali Khan, Ummey Hani , Altaf Ali Laghari , Jaleed Ahmed Gilani, Noyan Jawed, Muhammad Faraz Raghib, Saad bin Anis, Naveed Zaman Akhunzada, Sameen Siddiqi, & Syed Ather Enam. (2022). A national overview of paediatric and adolescent and young adult surgical neuro-oncology in Pakistan. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(11), S85-S92. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.11-S4-AKUB14

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >>