article · Neuro-Oncology Advances
A retrospective study in a single tertiary care hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, examined the histological spectrum of central nervous system tumours operated on in paediatric patients between June 2021 and December 2024. Paediatric cases made up 29.2 percent of all operated intracranial tumours. The mean patient age was 10 years, showing a higher frequency in boys and in the second decade of life. Posterior fossa tumours were twice as frequent as supratentorial tumours. Among the posterior fossa cases, pilocytic astrocytomas were the most common, followed by medulloblastomas. Supratentorial cases included paediatric-type high-grade gliomas, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, alongside a small number of meningiomas and a germ cell tumour. Overall, astrocytomas were the most prevalent tumour type, displaying patterns consistent with literature from other sub-Saharan African countries and Western cohorts.
Documenting paediatric brain tumour types provides crucial baseline evidence where published local data are scarce. Identifying the most common tumour locations and histological types helps clinicians and healthcare systems in Zambia understand the local burden of childhood central nervous system tumours, supporting better diagnostic awareness and treatment planning.
The abstract provides epidemiological baseline data and does not indicate a direct commercial application or technology pathway.
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Abstract Published literature on epidemiological profile of paediatric brain tumours in Zambia is scarce. Aim To present a retrospective analysis of the histological spectrum of 36 paediatric age group central nervous system tumours operated in a single tertiary care hospital in Lusaka, Zambia between June 2021 and December 2024. Methods and Materials Retrospective analysis of the data regarding frequencies of various primary brain tumours among 36 paediatric patients (<18 years of age). The tumours were categorised according to the revised 4th edition of World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of the Central Nervous system. Results Paediatric CNS constituted 29.2% of total intracranial tumours (35/120) operated in the study period. The mean age of the patients was 10 years, and a male predominance was noted (1.2:1). Posterior fossa tumors (24/35; 68.6%) were more common than supratentorial tumors. (12/35; 34.3%) Of the posterior fossa tumors majority were the pilocytic astrocytoma tumors (15/24; 62.5%), followed by medulloblastomas (9/24; 37.5%). Of the supratentorial tumors 6 pediatric type-high grade gliomas (17.1%) were recorded, 1 pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (2.9%) and 1 subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (2.9%) Our series also included 3 meningiomas (3/35; 8.6%) and one germ cell tumor (1/35; 2.9%). Conclusions Paediatric central nervous system tumours are more common in boys and in the second decade of life. Astrocytomas are the most common paediatric brain tumours followed by medulloblastomas. Pediatric tumours affect the infratentorial compartment more often than the supratentorial compartment. The profile of paediatric brain tumours in our series is similar to that reported from other countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as most western literature.
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DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf213.065
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