Epidemiological characteristics of intracranial tumors in syria

Abstract AR

Objectives : Neurosurgeons may utilize the epidemiological characteristics of intracranial tumors to reach an early diagnosis of these conditions and expedite treatment.

This report describes the epidemiological profile of intracranial tumors seen by one physician over a 30 year period in Syria.

Patients : The study included 659 surgical procedures involving intracranial tumors.

These procedures were performed by the author on patients at the El Mouassat University Hospital and in private hospitals in Damascus, during the thirty-year period from 1970-2000.

Mrthodology: This retrospective study was based on information obtained from the surgical records of the patients involved.

Percentages were calculated to show characteristics of age and gender distribution, anatomical location, and tissue diagnosis.

Results : The data demonstrated that 52% of tumors occurred in males.

There was a relatively similar age distribution up to the end of the fifth decade.

The incidence peaked in the 41-50 year age group at 18.1%, then declined in the sixth decade and beyond.

Infratentorial tumors represented the majority of tumors during the first two decades (61.9% in the first decade and 55% in the second), whereas supratentorial tumors dominated the third decade and beyond.

Benign tumors comprised 66.2% of tumors in all age groups, and 71.2% of intracranial tumors in females.

Pathologically, gliomas predominated overall accounting for 34.1% of tumors.

Meningiomas accounted for 36% of tumors in females vs.

19.4% in males.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide a reference point for future studies in the region