Brain and spinal tumour.
This study reviewed the epidemiology of brain and spinal tumours in Sarawak from January 2009 till December 2012. The crude incidence of brain tumour in Sarawak was 4.6 per 100,000 population/year with cumulative rate 0.5%. Meningioma was the most common brain tumour (32.3%) and followed by astrocytoma (19.4%). Only brain metastases showed a rising trend and cases were doubled in 4 years. This accounted for 15.4% and lung carcinoma was the commonest primary. Others tumour load were consistent. Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) and astrocytoma were common in paediatrics (60%). We encountered more primary spinal tumour rather than spinal metastases. Intradural schwannoma was the commonest and frequently located at thoracic level. The current healthcare system in Sarawak enables a more consolidate data collection to reflect accurate brain tumours incidence. This advantage allows subsequent future survival outcome research and benchmarking for healthcare resource planning.
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia. shencity@yahoo.com.
C H
CH
Goh
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
Y Y
YY
Lu
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
B L
BL
Lau
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Pathology, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
J
J
Oy
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
H K
HK
Lee
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
D
D
Liew
Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Jalan Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak 93586, Malaysia.
A
A
Wong