Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T01:54:04.661Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Epidemiology of Childhood Brain Tumors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Dartene Miltenburg*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (D.M.), and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary (D.F.L..G.R.S.)
Deon F. Louw*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (D.M.), and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary (D.F.L..G.R.S.)
Garnette R. Sutherland*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (D.M.), and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary (D.F.L..G.R.S.)
*
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Foothills Hospital, 1403 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Foothills Hospital, 1403 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Foothills Hospital, 1403 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Background: Brain tumors comprise more than 20% of all childhood malignancies, and constitute the greatest number of solid pediatric cancers. Incidence rates reported have varied from 2.4 to 3.5/100, 000 children, reflecting the impact of modern imaging techniques, the application of diverse investigative methodologies, and the accessibility of the community to health care. Methods: Material from patients < 18 years of age was collated from the Manitoba Cancer Foundation Tumor Registry, the personal records of Winnipeg pediatric neurologists, and autopsy data. Patient data were also obtained from hospital charts and operating room log books. Histological sections were examined and classified according to the American Cancer Society by a single neuropathologist. The chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation. Results: During the seven-year study period, the diagnosis of brain tumor was made in 89 pediatric patients, of which 88 were diagnosed premortem. The overall average annual incidence rate for both sexes was 4.03/100, 000 child-years, higher than that previously reported. The male and female average annual incidence rates were 4.2 and 3.7/100, 000 child-years, respectively. Tumor type and location were relatively unremarkable, with an expected peak of medulloblastoma occurring in young males. The yearly incidence of tumor occurrence was fairly stable, and the geographic distribution of cases within Manitoba, homogeneous. Conclusion: The highest incidence rates of pediatric brain tumors have been recorded in countries possessing sophisticated universal health care systems, possibly reflecting their efficacy in disease surveillance.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1996

References

1.Birch, JM, Marsden, HB, Swindell, R.Incidence of malignant disease in childhood: a 24-year review of the Manchester children’s tumor registry data Br J Cancer 1980; 42: 215223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Lannering, B, Marky, I, Nordborg, C.Brain tumors in childhood and adolescence in West Sweden, 1970–1984. Cancer 1990; 66: 604609.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Stiller, CA, Bunch, KJ.Brain and spinal tumors in children aged under two years: incidence and survival in Britain, 1971–1985 Br J Cancer 1992; 66:550553.Google Scholar
4.Mosso, ML, Colombo, R, Giordano, L, et al. Childhood cancer registry of the Province of Torino, Italy. Cancer 1992; 69: 13001306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Siqueira, EB, Rahm, B, Kanaan, I, Jallu, A.Brain tumors in pediatric patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Surg Neurol 1993; 39: 443450.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Warnick, RE, Edwards, MSB.Pediatric brain tumors. Curr Probl Pediatr 1991; 129175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Horm, JW, Asire, AJ, Young, JL, et al. SEER Program: cancer incidence and mortality in the United States 1973–1981. Bethesda, MD, National Institute of Health Publication No. 851837, 1984.Google Scholar
8.Cancer Statistics Review 1973–1986. Bethesda, MD, National Institute of Health Publication No. 892789, 1989.Google Scholar
9.Sutherland, GR, Florell, R, Louw, DF, Choi, NW, Sima, AAF.Epidemiology of primary intracranial neoplasms in Manitoba, Canada. Can J Neurol Sci 1987; 14: 586592.Google ScholarPubMed
10.Preston-Martin, S, Staples, M, Farrugia, H, Guiles, G.Primary tumors of the brain, cranial nerves and cranial meninges in Victoria, Australia, 1982–1990: patterns of incidence and survival. Neuroepidemiology 1993; 12(5): 270279.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Jumar, R, Tekkok, IH, Jones, RA.Intracranial tumors in the first 18 months of life. Childs Nerv Syst 1990; 6(7): 371374.Google Scholar
12.Hwang, SL, Howng, SL.An analysis of brain tumors in south Taiwan. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 1992; 8(12): 656664.Google ScholarPubMed
13.Mueller, BA, Gurney, JG.Epidemiology of pediatric brain tumors. Neurosurg Clin N Am 1992; 3(4): 715721.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Borch, K, Jacobsen, T, Olsen, JH, Hirsch, F, Hertz, H.Neonatal cancer in Denmark 1943–1985. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1992; 9(3): 209216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Rorke, LB, Gilles, FH, Davis, RL, Becker, LE.Revision of the World Health Organization classification of brain tumors for childhood brain tumors. Cancer 1985; 56: 18691886.3.0.CO;2-0>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Wilkin, JR Illrd, McLaughlin, JA, Sinks, TH, Kosnik, EJ.Parental occupation and intracranial neoplasms of childhood: anecdotal evidence from a unique occupational cancer cluster. Am J Indust Med 1991; 19(5): 643653.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Kuitjen, RR, Strom, SS, Rorke, LB, et al. Family history of cancer and seizures in young children with brain tumors: a report from the Childrens Cancer Group (United States and Canada). Cancer Causes Control 1993; 4(5): 455464.Google Scholar
18.Bondy, ML, Lustbader, ED, Buffler, PA, et al. Genetic epidemiology of childhood brain tumors. Genet Epidemiol 1991; 8(4): 253267.Google Scholar
19.Dobbing, J, Sands, J.Quantitative growth and development of human brain. Arch Dis Child 1973; 48: 757767.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Farwell, JR, Dohrmann, GJ, Flannery, JT.Medulloblastoma in childhood: an epidemiological study. J Neurosurg 1984; 61: 657664.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Sussman, A, Leviton, A, Allred, EN, et al. Childhood brain tumor: presentation at younger age is associated with a family tumor history. Cancer Causes Control 1990; 1(1): 7579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Geyer, JR, Berger, M.Central nervous system malignancies in children. NY State J Med 1990; 90: 601608.Google ScholarPubMed
23.Duffner, PK, Cohen, ME, Myers, MH, Heise, HW.Survival of children with brain tumors: SEER Program, 1973–1980. Neurology 1986; 36:597601.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Gilles, FH, Sobel, EL, LeViton, A, et al. Temporal trends among childhood brain tumor biopsies. The Childhood Brain Tumor Consortium. J Neurooncol 1992; 13(2): 137149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Desmeules, M, Mikkelsen, T, Mao, YIncreasing incidence of primary malignant brain tumors: influence of diagnostic methods. J Natl Cancer Inst 1992; 84(6): 442445.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26.Larsen, NS.Brain tumor incidence rising; researchers ask why. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; 85(13): 10241025.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed