Brain Tumor Programs in Asia and Africa: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
World Neurosurgery
Abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of brain tumor programs
in Asia and Africa and propose comprehensive evidence based short- and long-term measures for improving the
existing systems.
- METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was
conducted in June 2022 by the Asia-Africa Neurosurgery
Collaborative. A 27-item questionnaire was designed and
distributed to gain insight into the status and future directions of brain tumor programs in Asia and Africa. Six
components of brain tumor programs were identified—
surgery, oncology, neuropathology, research, training, and
finances—and assigned scores of 0e14. The total scores
allowed subclassification of each country into levels of
brain tumor program from I to VI.
- RESULTS: A total of 110 responses from 92 countries
were received. These were subdivided into 3 groups: group
1, countries with response from neurosurgeons (73 countries); group 2, countries with no neurosurgeons (19 countries); and group 3, countries without a neurosurgeon
response (16 countries). The components associated with
the highest level of brain tumor program were surgery,
neuropathology, and oncology. Most countries in both continents had level III brain tumor programs with a mean
surgical score of 2.24. The major lag between each group
was with respect to the advances in neuropathology and
financial support.
- CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to improve and
develop existing and nonexistent neuro-oncology infrastructure, personnel, and logistics in countries across the
continents, especially for the countries with no
neurosurgeons.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
brain tumor, Asia, Africa
Citation
Citation: World Neurosurg. (2023) 175:e1041-e1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2023.04.067