A pathological review of intracranial tumours seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan between 1980 and 1990.

The pattern of intracranial neoplasms in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria appears to have evolved over three decades since the establishment of neurosurgical facility in 1962. Metastatic tumours to the intracranial compartment were the commonest neoplasms (23%); choriocarcinoma and multicentric involvement of the brain in Burkitt s lymphoma accounted for the great majority of the metastases. Well-differentiated glial tumours are now being increasingly recognized in Ibadan, Nigeria. Glial tumours accounted for 20% of neoplasms, second in frequency to metastases. Pituitary adenomas and meningiomas accounted for 17.1% and 11.4% respectively. Germ cell tumours are however uncommon in Ibadan Nigeria having a low frequency (1.4%). A notable difference exists in the tumours found in children and adults. Astrocytomas accounted for the largest single group of neoplasms in children while metastatic tumours are the dominant group in adults. Continued improvement in neurosurgical facilities may improve diagnosis and cause more tumours to be verified histologically. This will contribute to the evolving pattern seen in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria.