Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39944055›Full record

ReviewNeuro-oncology advances

Radiotherapy and radiosurgery for intracranial lesions in Africa: Insights from 3 country case studies: A systematic review.

Ishav Shukla, Jason Wang, Mina Guirguis, Kwadwo Darko, Salah G Aoun, Umaru Barrie, Mabel Banson, Teddy Totimeh

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Neuro-oncology advances. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ishav ShuklaDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Jason WangDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Mina GuirguisDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Kwadwo DarkoDepartment of Neurosurgery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-195X
Salah G AounDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Umaru BarrieDepartment of Neurological Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York City, New York, USA.
Mabel BansonDepartment of Neurosurgery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-8929
Teddy TotimehAccra Medical Centre, Accra, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8260-2639

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are important treatment options for central nervous system (CNS) lesions. This review explores the current evidence on the use of radiotherapy and SRS for CNS lesions across Africa. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was completed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The results were synthesized to provide an overview of the current landscape of RT and SRS, highlighting treatment gaps and areas for further research and collaboration. Results: Nine studies, involving a total of 397 patients, were included. South Africa contributed the most studies with 4 (44.4%), followed by Nigeria with 3 studies (33.3%). Brain tumors were the most common lesion type, found in 88.8% of cases (95% CI: 66.9-100.0) with metastatic tumors being prevalent in 37.5% of cases (95% CI: 1.6-73.4). The breast was the most frequent origin of metastases seen in 93.67% (95% CI: 80-100). Whole brain radiation therapy was used in 33.3% of patients (95% CI: 0.7-66.0), stereotactic proton beam therapy in 33.3% (95% CI: 0.7-66.1), and gamma knife radiosurgery in 22.3% (95% CI: 0-51.1). Conclusion: RT and SRS are being implemented for CNS lesions in settings across Africa. Improving access and efficiency of these treatments will require both local and international collaboration to address challenges related to resource management and distribution.

Indexed as

Africaglobal neurosurgerylow- and middle-income countriesradiosurgeryradiotherapyresource-limited settings

Identifiers

PMID39944055
PMCPMC11815344

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.