DISP-07. CURRENT NEURO-ONCOLOGY CAPACITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED SURVEY

Abstract Brain tumors constitute significant morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is no previous large-scale effort focusing on brain tumor genetics in SSA. This project aims to map out the current neuro-oncology capacity in terms of workforce and available services in SSA. This is an ongoing online survey among a cross section of neuro-oncology practitioners spread across SSA countries to capture information on the distribution, number of available neuro-oncology care practitioners, capacity for neuropathology and molecular diagnosis, management of brain tumors, cancer registration, and tumor biobanking. The survey was disseminated by the Society for Neuro-oncology in SSA (SNOSSA). There were 83 respondents representing 15 countries and 52 health institutions: 46 tertiary, 4 secondary, 1 private and 1 other. Here, we present data on the 52 institutions. The prevalence of specialties was 87% neurosurgery, 75% anatomic pathology, 69% medical oncology, 64% neurology, 60% radiation oncology, and 39% neuropathology. For radiologic evaluation, 81% of institutions were reported to have both CT and MRI, 17% CT only, and one institution neither. For molecular testing, 46% have access to IHC or NGS testing, whereas 52% were reported to have neither. A neuro-oncology tumor board was reported at 58% of institutions. A general cancer registry is available in 64% of institutions, 31% have a brain tumor specific registry and 10% have a brain tumor biorepository. This study shows that SSA has substantial potential in neuro-oncology care practice capacity and facilities. Most significant gaps remain in areas such as neuropathology and molecular testing, which makes widespread implementation of the WHO 2021 diagnosis challenging. Understanding the prevalence of CNS tumor subtypes is also difficult due to low number of brain tumor registries and biobanks in SSA. The present findings reveal strategic opportunities, especially in neuropathology, tumor registries, biobanks, and infrastructure for IHC and NGS in SSA.

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Journal
Neuro-Oncology
Published
2024-11-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noae165.0581
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.40
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article

DISP-07. CURRENT NEURO-ONCOLOGY CAPACITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED SURVEY

David Kamson, Michael Magoha, W Elorm Yevudza, James A. Balogun et al.
1 citations
Neuro-Oncology
Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy
0.40
article

DISP-07. CURRENT NEURO-ONCOLOGY CAPACITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED SURVEY

David Kamson, Michael Magoha, W Elorm Yevudza, James A. Balogun, Nathalie Ghomsi, C C Anunobi, Jason T. Huse, Desmond Brown, Advera Ngaiza, Lateef A Odukoya, Francis Zerd, Jeanette E. Eckel‐Passow, Dominique Higgins, Ekokobe Fonkem, Daniel H. Lachance, Beverly Cheserem, Andrea O Akinjo, Gbètoho Fortuné Gankpé, Robert B. Jenkins, Olufemi Bankole, Liadi Tiamiyu, Gloria Kabare, Henry Llewellyn, Chukwuyem Ekhator, Margreth Magambo, Lawrence Osei‐Tutu, Kwadwo Darko, Arsène Daniel Nyalundja, Bernard Petershie, Victoria Mwebe Katasi, Gaspar J. Kitange, Olufemi Idowu, Kabir Badmos, Claire Karekazi, Elias Edrick, Minda Okenwa, Kashaigili Heronima, Kristin Shroeder, Totimeh Teddy
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract Brain tumors constitute significant morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is no previous large-scale effort focusing on brain tumor genetics in SSA. This project aims to map out the current neuro-oncology capacity in terms of workforce and available services in SSA. This is an ongoing online survey among a cross section of neuro-oncology practitioners spread across SSA countries to capture information on the distribution, number of available neuro-oncology care practitioners, capacity for neuropathology and molecular diagnosis, management of brain tumors, cancer registration, and tumor biobanking. The survey was disseminated by the Society for Neuro-oncology in SSA (SNOSSA). There were 83 respondents representing 15 countries and 52 health institutions: 46 tertiary, 4 secondary, 1 private and 1 other. Here, we present data on the 52 institutions. The prevalence of specialties was 87% neurosurgery, 75% anatomic pathology, 69% medical oncology, 64% neurology, 60% radiation oncology, and 39% neuropathology. For radiologic evaluation, 81% of institutions were reported to have both CT and MRI, 17% CT only, and one institution neither. For molecular testing, 46% have access to IHC or NGS testing, whereas 52% were reported to have neither. A neuro-oncology tumor board was reported at 58% of institutions. A general cancer registry is available in 64% of institutions, 31% have a brain tumor specific registry and 10% have a brain tumor biorepository. This study shows that SSA has substantial potential in neuro-oncology care practice capacity and facilities. Most significant gaps remain in areas such as neuropathology and molecular testing, which makes widespread implementation of the WHO 2021 diagnosis challenging. Understanding the prevalence of CNS tumor subtypes is also difficult due to low number of brain tumor registries and biobanks in SSA. The present findings reveal strategic opportunities, especially in neuropathology, tumor registries, biobanks, and infrastructure for IHC and NGS in SSA.

Neuro-OncologyVol. 26(Supplement_8)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US), University of Nairobi (KE), University of Minnesota (US), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US), University of Ghana (GH), Johns Hopkins University (US), Duke University (US), University of Ibadan (NG), King's College London (GB), University of Lagos (NG), Medical College of Wisconsin (US), Hormel (United States) (US), Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (TZ), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (GH), Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi (KE), Johns Hopkins Medicine (US), University College Hospital, Ibadan (NG), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (NG), Mulago Hospital (UG), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (GH), New York Institute of Technology (US), Tanzania National Parks (TZ), Aga Khan University Nairobi (KE), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (US), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (NG), Université Catholique de Bukavu (CD), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US), Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire Hubert Koutoukou MAGA (BJ), Rwanda Military Hospital (RW), Muhimbili National Hospital (TZ), Mayo Clinic in Florida (US), Bugando Medical Centre (TZ), Neurological Surgery (US), Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (CI), Columbia University (US)
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Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy
0.40
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