Histopathological Spectrum of Central Nervous System Tumours in Adolescent and Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Study from Punjab, Northern India

Abstract

Introduction: Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours are a common cause of cancer-related deaths in adolescents and young adults. The challenges in diagnosing and treating CNS tumours in this age group are unique and require special attention. Aim: To study the histopathological spectrum of CNS tumours in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA). Materials and Methods: Present five-year cross-sectional study was conducted on CNS biopsies received in the Department of Pathology at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2021, to analyse the histopathological spectrum of CNS tumours in the AYA group based on the site of the lesion, age, gender, and Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH) status. Results: During the study period, a total of 215 cases of CNS tumours were identified, of which 52 (24.2%) belonged to the AYA group. Of these, 35 (67.3%) were males and 17 (32.7%) were females. The majority of the patients presented with complaints of headache (50/52, 96.1%), with the frontal lobe being the most common site of involvement (21/52, 40.4%). Diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumours were the most commonly observed (23/52, 44.2%). Conclusion: CNS tumours are one of the most common cancer diagnosis among the AYA group, and awareness should be enhanced among histopathologists and oncologists regarding these tumours based on the updated classification.