title: Morphologic spectrum of glial tumors: an increased trend towards oligodendroglial tumors in Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glial tumors are most common brain tumors in our population. While the exact etiology and pathogenesis is unknown, the evaluation of current trends in the frequency and morphology of glial tumors is imperative to constitute better diagnostic and treatment protocols. Data pertaining to frequency and spectrum of glial tumors is scarcely available in our population. The aim of this study was to determine the morphologic spectrum of glial tumors prevalent in our population.
  
  
  METHODS
  126 cases of glial tumors were retrospectively analyzed over a period of 5 years. Patients from all age groups and both genders were included in this study. Glial tumors were classified and graded according to WHO classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glial tumors were more common in males with a sex ratio of 2:1 and mean age of 38.26 years. Astrocytomas were most common glial tumors (51.6%) followed by oligodendrogliomas (23%). Glioblastoma was the most frequent astrocytic tumor and was incomparably frequent in older age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, Oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas represent major pattern of disease in comparison with available regional data. Knowledge of these changing trends and patterns of glial tumor morphology and frequency can help in improvements and applications of newly emerging diagnostic and treatment modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Atif Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Faridi
authors.affiliation: Department of medical oncology, Sindh institute of urology and transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Babar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Muzzammil
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Edhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mehmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: Astrocytoma; Glial tumors; Glioblastoma; Mixed oligoastrocytoma; Oligodendroglioma