Epidemiology of Tumors of the Brain and Central Nervous System: Review of Incidence and Patterns among Histological Subtypes

Most epidemiology reports indicate that brain tumor rates in whites are higher than other populations and that they are more common in males than females. In this report, we analyze incidence patterns in registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program in different histological groups, racial/gender combinations and compare the overall and age-specific incidence rates. Our analysis shows statistically significant racial differences in rates for astrocytomas non-otherwise specified in both sexes, and unspecified malignant intracranial intraspinal neoplasms for females. Those of other specified intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms in females are higher than males, indicating the importance of biological differences. Other glioma young age rates peak after the age of five, the peak is higher for the black race. The study demonstrated several distinctive patterns in the rates by histological subtypes and showed differentiation in the age at diagnosis, giving insight on potential true changes in different subpopulations.