Newborns with the characteristics of congenital syndrome associated with Zika virus (CSAZ) are being born in urban hospitals after the 2016 Zika virus epidemic in Jamaica. Phenotypic features include microcephaly, craniofacial disproportion, neuro-imaging and neuro-pathological findings and arthrogryposis. A trend towards babies being delivered with small head circumferences, but not yet in the range of microcephaly and others with normal head sizes who were born to women who were symptomatic in pregnancy is also being observed. While, most babies with probable CSAZ are being born to asymptomatic women who did not report any symptoms related to arbovirus illness in pregnancy. Diagnosis is challenged by serological cross-reactivity between circulating flaviviruses. Team management is multidisciplinary to maximize the neuro-developmental potential of this vulnerable patient population.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and the most common primary brain tumour worldwide. This initial study was undertaken in order to investigate the demographics of this very malignant tumour in our population using data from the recently started Intracranial Tumour Registry at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

A hospital-based intracranial tumour registry (ITR) was established at the University Hospital of the West Indies in March 2010. This paper reports on the challenges encountered in establishing the ITR as well as the initial findings. Recommendations have also been put forward which may be useful to other researchers planning to implement a registry.