Determinants of survival in children with brain tumors.

A study was conducted in metropolitan Baltimore to examine time trends in survival and factors which influence survival of children with brain tumors. One hundred eighty-four cases diagnosed from 1960 to 1975 were identified; 76.5% occurred in white children and 48% were girls. Five-year survival rates were 35% for children diagnosed in 1960-64, 34% in 1965-69, and 49% in 1970-74. Girls had consistently better survival rates than boys. White children experienced consistently better survival rates than blacks. Of those who survived the first year, children with supratentorial tumors had better five-year survival rates (46%) than those which with infratentorial tumors (27%). Of those who survived the first year, children with astrocytomas had better survival rates than those with other types of tumors.