Incidence and survival of central nervous system tumors in childhood and adolescence in Girona (Spain) 1990-2013: national and international comparisons.

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric central nervous system tumors are one of the most frequent types of neoplasms in children but epidemiological data on these tumors have been sparsely reported in the medical literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyze the epidemiology of this type of tumors performing a retrospective population-based study in pediatrics and adolescent age in the population of Girona and compare them with series from Spain, Europe and worldwide. Cases were registered using the International Classification of Disease for Oncology, third edition and grouping according the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, third edition (ICCC-3).

RESULTS

For all the histologies and the whole population between 0 and 19 years old, ASRw was 41.8 cases per million person-years. In children population, meaning under 14 years old, we found 104 cases with ASRw of 45.6. Males were the most affected by CNS tumors with a 1.2 sex ratio between 0 and 14 years old, and 1.1 between 0 and 19 years old. The analysis of trends in incidence did not find any statistically significant increase or decrease. Five-year observed survival was 68%, both for patients under 19 and 14 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence in our area was among the highest in Spain and worldwide, while survival was comparable to others reported.