Histological types of brain tumors diagnosed at the Kenyatta National Hospital between 2016 and 2019: a retrospective study

Abstract Purpose To determine the histological types of brain tumors diagnosed at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Methods This retrospective study retrieved patient-archived records at the Kenyatta National Hospital for the period 2016–2019. The histological types of brain tumors were assessed according to age, sex, and the WHO classification for CNS tumors using the GNU PSPP version 1.6.2-g78a33 software. Results were presented in tables and figures. Results During the study period, brain tumors appeared to increase gradually; however, there was a decline in 2018. During the study period, 345 brain tumor records were retrieved. Data on age were missing 33 records; hence, 312 records were included for age analyses. The mean age for the pediatrics and adults was 9 (± 5 SD) and 45 (± 14 SD) years, respectively. 88 (28.2%) and 224 (71.8%) tumors were diagnosed among pediatrics and adults, respectively. Most tumors, 60 (19.2%) were reported in patients aged ≤ 10 years, followed by 55 (17.6%), 48 (15.4%), and 47 (15.1%) in patients aged 31–40, 51–60, and 41–50, years, respectively. In both pediatrics and adults, most tumors were diagnosed in females aged ≤ 10 years and 31–40 years, respectively. Overall, two peaks were observed in patients aged 5–15 years and 40–45 years. Gliomas, 43 (48.9%) and medulloblastomas, 21 (23.9%) were the most common tumors in pediatrics, whereas meningiomas, 107 (47.8%) and gliomas, 70 (31.3%) were the most common tumors in adults. Most pediatric and adult tumors were benign with 50 (56.8%) and 157 (70.1%) cases, respectively. Low-grade gliomas and medulloblastomas were the commonest benign and malignant tumors among pediatrics, with 31 (62%) and 21 (55.3%) cases, respectively. Conversely, meningiomas and high-grade gliomas were the most common benign and malignant tumors in adults, with 106 (67.5%) and 44 (65.7%) cases, respectively. Conclusion This study highlights the existing burden of brain tumors in Kenya and data from KNH may be representative of the national burden of BTs. This study lays a foundation for subsequent clinical and epidemiological studies and emphasizes the need to adopt existing reporting standards to help realize a complete picture of the burden of brain tumors in Kenya.