Abstract
Background The pattern of childhood brain tumors during the past ten years in Gezira area-central Sudan was reviewed.
Procedure: The study was a retrospective analytical study included all patients who were 15 years or younger at the time of first presentation to National Cancer Institute-University of Gezira- Sudan (NCI) and who were diagnosed with one of the brain tumors. The study covered a period of 10 years -from 1999 to 2008.
Results: During the study period there were 17 patients (3.7% of all childhood malignancies) presented with one of the brain tumors. Male: female
ratio was approximately 0.9: 1, the majority of them were between 5 and 10 years of age (47%) and most of them came from rural origins (59%). Glioma was the predominant diagnosis. Unfortunately 7 patients (41 %) died during this period, 8 (47.1 %) alive, and 2 (11.8%) escaped from the hospital. A surgical attempt for excision was only performed in 5 patients (29%).
Conclusion: The study reflects the overall poor referral rate of childhood brain tumors and the inadequate surgical management which led to high mortality rate reported. The study also showed that, Gezira region pattern is similar to other African region where brain tumors do not predominate.