• Muhammad Shakir, Syeda Fatima Shariq, Izza Tahir, Aly Hamza Khowaja, Hammad Atif Irshad, Ali I Rae, Radzi Hamzah, Saksham Gupta, Kee B Park, and Syed Ather Enam.
• Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Jul 23; 191: 688068-80.

ObjectiveWhile early diagnosis of brain tumors is essential for improving prognoses, several challenges prevent early diagnosis of these illnesses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this systematic review is to identify and evaluate the barriers and challenges to early detection of brain tumors in LMICs, as well as to propose potential solutions.MethodsA thorough search of the literature was carried out with the aid of multiple databases, including Google Scholar, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus. Studies focusing on the early detection of brain tumors in low- and middle-income countries met the inclusion criteria for this review. Articles were screened independently by 2 reviewers. National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia plan framework was used to extract relevant data and develop themes. Microsoft Excel was then used to arrange and analyze these themes.ResultsOut of 21 articles included in the final analysis, notable challenges to early detection of brain tumors included healthcare providers' lack of awareness of early signs and symptoms of brain tumors (21%), limited diagnostic facilities (38%), misdiagnosis by healthcare providers (33%), and financial constraints (46%). Potential strategies for addressing these barriers and challenges include educating healthcare providers on early warning signs (50%), improving the early referral system (25%) and establishing local clinical guidelines (19%).ConclusionsSignificant barriers to early detection persist in LMICs. Collaboration between stakeholders, legislators, health ministries, and governmental organizations is essential for developing and implementing focused interventions, such as establishment of referral pathways and specialized centers, adapting guidelines to local cultural contexts and raising public and professional awareness.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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