Epidemiology of brain tumors in the United Arab Emirates: a National Registry Cross-sectional Study (original) (raw)

Background Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); brain cancer ranks 10th among the cancers, with 2.9% of the primary cancers originating from the nervous system. The epidemiology of brain cancers has not been explored. The unique population dynamics of UAE make it a fertile ground for analyzing the epidemiology of brain cancer. In this study, we aim to look at the frequency patterns and distribution of malignant primary brain tumors in the UAE. Methods A cross sectional study was carried out using data obtained from the Tawam Hospital Cancer Registry for the years 1984–2017. The sample size included 756 diagnosed cases of malignant primary brain tumors in the UAE. Using SPSS and Excel software, frequencies, mean ages, histological type frequencies, average annual crude incidence rates and average annual age adjusted incidence rates were analyzed. Results The expatriate population had higher percentage of brain tumors (72%) than the locals. The...