A retrospective analysis of practical benefits and caveats of the new WHO 2021 central nervous system tumor classification scheme in low-resource settings: "A perspective from low- and middle-income countries".

Abstract

The revised classification of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 was hailed as a major advance and improvement in the management of brain tumor patients. However, the increased reliance on sophisticated technology and molecular analysis posed a major challenge to healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries. A few recent publications have drawn attention to the issue of the applicability of the new CNS WHO 2021 worldwide, but the exuberant enthusiasm observed in high-income countries seems to have stifled such a concern. In this study, we present data on the practical utility of the changes that occurred in CNS WHO 2021 in four institutions with limited resources. Our findings demonstrate no major alterations in patient management in low resource settings and significant added financial impact. While there is no doubt that the revised classification provides greater insight into tumor biology and molecular/genetic features of CNS tumors, its practical benefit and applicability in the majority of cases worldwide are limited, and attempts to improve its utility in low resource settings are warranted.