EPID-08. Epidemiology of childhood brain tumors in Morocco

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors and cause of cancer-related death in children less than 15 years of age. However, little is known about these tumors in Morocco. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological features of pediatric brain tumors in Morocco. METHODS: This is a descriptive retrospective study of pediatric brain tumor cases, diagnosed and treated between 1994 and 2015 at Al Azhar Oncology Center in Rabat. Patient’s age and sex, habitat area, overall survival and tumor characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 41 children under the age of 15 years were diagnosed with brain tumors at Al Azhar Oncology Center. Brain tumors were more common among boys than girls, with a male-female ratio of 1.9. The average age of diagnosis was 7.47 ± 3.06 years (range 2-14 years). More than half (51.22%) of the cases were diagnosed in children aged 5-9 years. Regarding the habitat area, nearly two-thirds (62.50%) of children live at least 30 kilometer (km) away from the cancer center. Medulloblastoma was the most common tumor type with 34.15% of cases. Overall, one patient develops a metastasis. Among the cases for whom the outcome was known, five children died during the study period, consisting of three girls and two boys. CONCLUSIONS: Children’s brain tumors remain a serious public health problem in Morocco, especially with the limited number of specialized pediatric cancer centers. The travel burden is a significant factor affecting access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment and can impede the provision of high-quality care for cancer patients.