PDNO-05 EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMORS IN ZAMBIA

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.