Histological pattern of central nervous system neoplasms

ABSTRACT

To see in a large series of patients the histological pattern of CMS neoplasms and to provide a comprehensive data about the frequency of CMS neoplasms in Pakistani patients and to give a clearer idea about their prevalence. Retrospective study of all consecutive cases of CNS neoplasms diagnosed at The Aga Khan University Hospital [AKUH] between 1[st] January, 1994 and 31st December, 1999. The section of Histopathology, AKUH, Karachi.. Our series included a large number of cases i.e., 1110. There are very few local studies on CNS tumours and none so large. Our data was correlated with published Western and Pakistani data. Glial tumours were the commonest primary CNS neoplasms followed by meningiomas. Among glial tumours, astrocytomas comprised the largest group and the majority was high grade [III and IV] astrocytomas. Percentages of anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas were also significant. Male to female ratio was 1.61. However, meningiomas were more common in females. Almost half of the CNS tumours in patients 15 years or younger were in the posterior cranial fossa. Metastatic tumours were much lower as compared to the West. Except for the high percentages of anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas and the low percentage of metastatic tumours, most of our findings roughly correspond with the published data