Pediatric brain tumors in sub-Saharan Africa : a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: Brain tumors are a global problem, leading to higher cancer-related morbidity and mortality rates in children. Despite the progressive though slow advances in neuro-oncology care, research, and diagnostics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the epidemiological landscape of pediatric brain tumors (PBTs) remains underestimated. This study aimed to systematically analyze the distribution of PBT types in SSA.

METHODS: Ovid Medline, Global Index Medicus, African Journals Online, Google Scholar, and faculty of medicine libraries were searched for literature on PBTs in SSA published before October 29, 2022. A proportional meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Forty-nine studies, involving 2360 children, met the inclusion criteria for review; only 20 (40.82%) were included in the quantitative analysis. South Africa and Nigeria were the countries with the most abundant data. Glioma not otherwise specified (NOS) was the common PBT in the 4 SSA regions combined. However, medulloblastoma was more commonly reported in Southern SSA (p = 0.01) than in other regions. The prevalence and the overall pooled proportion of the 3 common PBTs was estimated at 46.27% and 0.41 (95% CI 0.32-0.50, 95% prediction interval [PI] 0.11-0.79), 25.34% and 0.18 (95% CI 0.14-0.21, 95% PI 0.06-0.40), and 12.67% and 0.12 (95% CI 0.09-0.15, 95% PI 0.04-0.29) for glioma NOS, medulloblastoma, and craniopharyngioma, respectively. Sample size moderated the estimated proportion of glioma NOS (p = 0.02). The highest proportion of craniopharyngiomas was in Western SSA, and medulloblastoma and glioma NOS in Central SSA.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into the trends of PBT types and the proportion of the top 3 most common tumors across SSA. Although statistical conclusions are difficult due to the inconsistency in the data, the study identifies critical areas for policy development and collaborations that can facilitate improved outcomes in PBTs in SSA. More accurate epidemiological studies of these tumors are needed to better understand the burden of the disease and the geographic variation in their distribution, and to raise awareness in their subsequent management.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics - (2024) vom: 15. März, Seite 1-12

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Nyalundja, Arsene Daniel [VerfasserIn]
Kanmounye, Ulrick Sidney [VerfasserIn]
Karekezi, Claire [VerfasserIn]
Laeke, Tsegazeab [VerfasserIn]
Thango, Nqobile [VerfasserIn]
Balogun, James A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Epidemiology
Global neurosurgery
Global surgery
Journal Article
Meta-analysis
Pediatric brain tumor
Sub-Saharan Africa

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 15.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.3171/2024.1.PEDS23282

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM369794958