The public health burden of nervous system tumors in Anambra State, Nigeria necessitates strategic resource allocation

This study investigated the epidemiology of nervous system tumors (NSTs) in Anambra State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2024, a largely under-researched area with significant public health implications. Employing a descriptive, ambispective cross-sectional design, data from public and private pathology registries across all senatorial zones were analyzed using SPSS version 26. A total of 221 NST cases were identified with a male to female ratio of 1:1.08. Central nervous system (CNS) tumors accounted for 29.9% (n = 66), with meningiomas (42.4% of CNS tumors) being the most prevalent histological subtype, followed by astrocytic/oligodendroglial tumors (27.3%) and metastases (7.6%). Meningothelial meningiomas were the dominant variant. Peripheral nervous system (PNS) tumors comprised 70.1% (n = 155) of cases, with neurofibromas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), and schwannomas being most frequent. Importantly, pre-operative diagnoses corresponded with definitive histological findings in less than 50% of cases. However, 24% of the histopathology request forms were incompletely filled, particularly missing essential clinical and radiological information. This study provides valuable epidemiological data on the prevalence and subtypes of nervous system tumors in Anambra, highlighting a critical need for improved diagnostic precision. Furthermore, the findings provide a basis for recommending the expansion of the Nigerian cancer policy and regional neuro-oncology service planning to reflect standard practices in early diagnosis and prognostication through standardization of pathology forms, improved resource allocation, and urgent healthcare investments in advanced imaging and pathology tools in Nigeria.