- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence rate of primary brain tumors (PBTs) among Palestinian children over a 6- year interval. This study also aimed to identify the predominant histopathologic types identified in these children. - METHODS: This retrospective epidemiologic study focused on PBTs in children (<15 years) in Palestine. The data were collected from the registry system at AlMakassed Hospital in Jerusalem, a prominent referral institution in Palestine and the largest center for PBTs in the region, over a 6 years period from 2018 to 2023. - RESULTS: The incidence rate of PBTs in children (<15 years) was 1.33 per 100,000 person-years, with a 5% mortality rate. Pilocytic astrocytoma was the most common type (24%), followed by medulloblastoma (15.2%) and glioblastoma (6.3%). About one half of the tumors in children were malignant. Headaches were the most common first sign or symptom. About 20% of brain tumors in children were situated within the ventricles, making it the most prevalent location of these tumors, followed by the cerebellum (15.19%) and frontal lobe (11.39%). - CONCLUSIONS: This is the first national study in Palestine investigating PBTs in children. The crude incidence rate of primary brain tumors among Palestinian children was lower than the incidence rate in many countries around the world. It is recommended that more research be done on the epidemiology and distribution of PBTs in children in Palestine.

Title

World Neurosurgery

Publisher

Elsevier

Publisher Country

Netherlands

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

2.0

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

186

Year

2024

Pages

e470-e480