Review article
Epidemiology of Central Nervous System Tumors in Karlovac Area (Croatia), 1995–2010
Ervin Jančić
Hrvoje Cvitanović
Vesna Miholović
Diana Kralj
Biserka Hranilović
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the central nervous system (CNS) tumours epidemiology in
Karlovac region, over the 1995–2010 period. We analyzed data on 359 patients (194 men and 165 women), diagnosed
with CNS tumours according to the World Health Organization’s diagnostic criteria, in period 1995–2010. The data
were obtained from the Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, including other medical records. The data were analysed
with t-test and chi-square test. A total of 359 cases of tumours in CNS were recorded for the period of 1995–2010,
with slight predominance of men (194;54.0%) over women (165;46.0%). Under the assumption of gender equality, we did
not detect a significant gender difference in tumour diagnosis (p=0.279).Mean age at the diagnosis was 64.1±12.6 years,
with significant gender difference: mean age at diagnosis formen was 62.8±11.6 years, while for women it was 65.7±13.5
(p=0.029). The commonest type of all tumours was metastases (144;40.1%). When only primary tumours were analysed,
the commonest type was glioblastoma (125;58.15%), followed by meningeoma (44;20.5%). The remaining types were
much less frequent, with i.e. 5 recorded cases of the following three types: astrocytoma, ependimoma and oligodendroglyoma
(2.3%). These results suggest a commonly encountered epidemiological profile in the region, with commonest
metastases, and glioblastoma as the most common primary tumour. Due to difficulties related to patient gravitating hospitals
admittance and overall small sample size for more detailed analyses, it remains for future studies to determine potential
association of the Homeland war (1991–1995) and the occurrence of CNS tumours.
Keywords
tumour; central nervous system; glioblastoma
Hrčak ID:
72303
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2011.
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