Spectrum of Brain Tumors in a Tertiary Care Center: A Histopathological Perspective

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with varied morphology, biological behaviour, and clinical outcomes. Histopathology remains central to diagnosis, with immunohistochemistry and molecular studies increasingly contributing to tumor classification. The aim is to evaluate the demographic characteristics and histopathological spectrum of CNS tumors diagnosed at a tertiary-care centre. Material and Methods: This observational, hospital-based study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, from January to December 2022. Histopathological specimens from patients with intracranial and intraspinal space-occupying lesions were evaluated. Tumors were classified according to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Immunohistochemistry was performed wherever required. Results: A total of 41 tumors were identified, with patient ages ranging from 3 to 70 years. There were 19 males (46.3%) and 22 females (53.7%), giving a male-to-female ratio of 0.86:1. Neuroepithelial tumors constituted the largest group (32; 78.0%). Glioblastoma was the most frequent individual tumor (12; 29.3%), followed by grade 2 astrocytoma (10; 24.4%). Other neuroepithelial tumors included oligoastrocytoma (7.3%), anaplastic astrocytoma (4.9%), gliosarcoma (4.9%), pilocytic astrocytoma (2.4%), pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (2.4%), and oligodendroglioma (2.4%). Meningioma accounted for six cases (14.6%) and showed female predominance. Pituitary adenoma, neurilemmoma, and medulloblastoma occurred as single cases. Conclusion: Neuroepithelial tumors predominated, with glioblastoma being the most common diagnosis. Meningioma was the most frequent non-neuroepithelial tumor and showed female predominance. The study provides baseline institutional data and highlights the importance of histopathology supported by ancillary investigations in CNS tumor diagnosis.

Keywords: Brain tumors, central nervous system neoplasms, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, meningioma.