Epidemiological profile of adult primary brain tumors

Background: The study was carried out to explore the epidemiologic profile of the incidence of primary brain tumors (PBTs) in Syria. Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted in all neurosurgical departments of primary referral hospitals across Syria’s 14 districts during 2009 th study was conducted in all neurosurgical department PBTs were included, with diagnoses based on either histopathological confirmation or characteristic radiological features. Incidence rates were age-adjusted to the 2004 Syrian standard population. Results: A total of 2,994 cases (1,532 males and 1,462 females) were identified. The average annual incidence rate of PBTs was 7.48/100,000 person-years, with gliomas (3.36), meningiomas (1.43), and sellar region tumors (1.25) being the most common. Meningiomas showed a female predominance (female: male = 1.6:1), while gliomas were more common in males (male: female = 1.3:1). The median age at the diagnosis was 52 years overall, 56 years for neuroepithelial tumors, and 48 years for meningiomas. Conclusion: The epidemiology of brain tumors in Syria shows a relatively low incidence, with differences in age and tumor distribution by sex. These findings establish a critical pre-conflict baseline for Syria and highlight potential under the diagnosis despite a functioning health infrastructure.