Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 16 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 202-210
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260623
Demographic, Anatomical, and Histopathological Characteristics of Central Nervous System Tumors: A Retrospective Observational Study
Waseem Ahmad Shah1, Mir Iffat Khurshid2, Shazia3
1Assistant Professor, Department of ENT (Otorhinolaryngology), Kashmir Medical College & Hospital, Sempora Medicity, Srinagar, J&K-191101
2Senior Resident, Department of Anatomy, GMC Udhampur
3PG Scholar, Department of Anatomy, GMC Jammu
Corresponding Author: Dr. Shazia
ABSTRACT
Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors embody a diverse group of neoplasms with scattered histopathological characteristics and clinical behavior. Understanding their demographic profile, anatomical distribution and histological spectrum is important for accurate diagnosis and targeted efficient patient management. With this in mind, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinicopathological profile of CNS tumors diagnosed at a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on 200 histopathologically confirmed cases of CNS tumors retrieved from available pathology reports, referral documents, and patient case files maintained in the medical record department. Archived data relating to demographic characteristics and tumour location and histopathological diagnosis were obtained. Tumors were classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System and gliomas were further classified on World Health Organization (WHO) grading. Results: The highest proportion of cases was observed in the 41–50-year age group (23.0%), followed by the 31–40-year (19.0%) and 51–60-year (17.5%) age groups. The male cases outnumbered the females with a ratio of 1.33: 1. The most common location was the frontal lobe (19.0%), followed by the meninges/falx/convexity (15.0%), temporal lobe (13.0%), and sellar/suprasellar region (12.0%). The majority of tumors were supratentorial (74.0%). Diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors represented the most common types of neoplasms (28.0%), followed by meningiomas (26.0%), pituitary adenomas (11.0%) and glioblastomas (9.0%) and schwannomas (9.0%). Gliomas were divided into four grades, with Grade IV being the largest group (37.9%), followed by Grade II (27.0%), Grade III (21.6%) and Grade I (13.5%).
Conclusions: CNS tumors were highly heterogeneous in terms of demographics, anatomical location and histopathology. Most were found in middle aged adults with a male predominance. The findings provide useful regional information on the clinicopathological spectrum of CNS tumors and can help to optimise the diagnosis and management of these tumours.
Key words: Central nervous system tumors; Glioma; Meningioma; Histopathology; WHO grading; Brain tumors