A first count of brain and spine tumors on Reunion Island
Original title: Incidence and Survival of Central Nervous System Tumors in Reunion Island: A Population-Based Study.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This just counted real patients over time. It did not test any treatment.
The short version
Doctors counted brain and spine tumors on Reunion Island, and the patterns looked much like mainland France.
What was studied. Researchers used Reunion Island's cancer registry to look at people diagnosed with a primary brain or spine tumor. They counted 1,162 cases found between 2006 and 2020.
What they found. Meningiomas were the most common tumor, at 52.6% of cases. They were much more common in women. Glioblastomas made up 26.1% of cases and were more common in men. About half of people with glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4, the highest grade. It grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary were alive 1 year after diagnosis, and far fewer were alive at 5 years.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This gives people on Reunion Island a clear picture of how often these tumors happen there. It suggests care and outcomes there are in line with mainland France. It can help local health planners decide where to put resources.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment, and it is not a cure. It is a count of past cases from a registry, not a test of any drug or therapy. Nothing here changes what your doctor can offer you today. The survival numbers describe a whole group over many years. They cannot tell you what will happen to one person.
Source: PubMed, September 23, 2026 · Read the original
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