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. 2022 Oct 5;24(Suppl 5):v1–v95. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac202

CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015–2019

Quinn T Ostrom 1,2,3,4,#,, Mackenzie Price 5,6, Corey Neff 7,8, Gino Cioffi 9,10, Kristin A Waite 11,12, Carol Kruchko 13, Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan 14,15,16,
PMCID: PMC9533228  PMID: 36196752

Abstract

The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, is the largest population-based registry focused exclusively on primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the United States (US) and represents the entire US population. This report contains the most up-to-date population-based data on primary brain tumors available and supersedes all previous reports in terms of completeness and accuracy. All rates are age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population and presented per 100,000 population. The average annual age-adjusted incidence rate (AAAIR) of all malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 24.71 per 100,000 population (malignant AAAIR=7.02 and non-malignant AAAIR=17.69). This overall rate was higher in females compared to males (27.62 versus 21.60 per 100,000) and non-Hispanic persons compared to Hispanic persons (25.09 versus 22.95 per 100,000). The most commonly occurring malignant brain and other CNS histopathology was glioblastoma (14.2% of all tumors and 50.1% of all malignant tumors), and the most common non-malignant histopathology was meningioma (39.7% of all tumors and 55.4% of all non-malignant tumors). Glioblastoma was more common in males, and meningiomas were more common in females. In children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years), the incidence rate of all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 6.20 per 100,000 population. An estimated 93,470 new cases of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the US population in 2022 (26,670 malignant and 66,806 non-malignant). There were 84,264 deaths attributed to malignant brain and other CNS tumors between 2015 and 2019. This represents an average annual mortality rate of 4.41 per 100,000 population and an average of 16,853 deaths per year. The five-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a malignant brain and other CNS tumor was 35.7%, while for non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors the five-year relative survival rate was 91.8%.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is the largest population-based registry focused exclusively on primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the United States (US) and represents the entire US population. The CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019 contains the most up-to-date population-based data on primary brain tumors available through the surveillance system in the United States and supersedes all previous reports in terms of completeness and accuracy, thereby providing a current comprehensive source for the descriptive epidemiology of these tumors. All rates are age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population and presented per 100,000 population.

New to the CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019: This is the first CBTRUS report to present incidence rates for selected molecularly-defined brain and other CNS tumor histopathologies for diagnoses in 2018-2019. Completeness of data on selected brain molecular markers (BMM) has improved from 2018 to 2019.

Incidence

  • The average annual age-adjusted incidence rate (AAAIR) of all malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 24.71 per 100,000 population between 2015 and 2019. The AAAIR of malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 7.02 per 100,000 population, and the AAAIR of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 17.69 per 100,000 population.

  • There have been no substantial changes in incidence of malignant brain tumors, with the exception of a slight, but significant, increase in the youngest age group (0-14 years).

  • The overall incidence rate was higher in females compared to males (27.62 versus 21.60 per 100,000) and non-Hispanic persons (of any race) compared to Hispanic persons (25.09 versus 22.95 per 100,000).

  • Approximately 28.3% of all brain and other CNS tumors were malignant and 71.7% were non-malignant, which makes non-malignant tumors more than twice as common as malignant tumors for the first time.

  • The most commonly occurring malignant brain and other CNS tumor histopathology was glioblastoma (14.2% of all tumors and 50.1% of all malignant tumors), and the most common non-malignant histopathology was meningioma (39.7% of all tumors and 55.4% of all non-malignant tumors). Glioblastoma was more common in males, and meningiomas were more common in females.

  • In children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years), the AAAIR of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors was 6.20 per 100,000 population between 2015 and 2019.

  • In children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years), incidence was higher in females compared to males (6.29 versus 6.10 per 100,000), White persons compared to Black persons (6.39 versus 4.89 per 100,000), and non-Hispanic persons compared to Hispanic persons (6.44 versus 5.47 per 100,000).

  • An estimated 93,470 new cases of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. This includes an expected 26,670 malignant and 66,800 non-malignant tumors.

Mortality

  • There were 84,264 deaths attributed to malignant brain and other CNS tumors between 2015 and 2019. This represents an average annual mortality rate of 4.41 per 100,000 population and an average of 16,853 deaths per year caused by malignant brain and other CNS tumors.

Survival

  • The five-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a malignant brain and other CNS tumor was 35.7%. Survival following diagnosis with a malignant brain and other CNS tumor was highest in persons ages 0-14 years (75.1%) and ages 15-39 years (71.7%) as compared to those ages 40+ years (21.0%).

  • The five-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a non-malignant brain and other CNS tumor was 91.8%. Survival following diagnosis with a non-malignant brain and other CNS tumor was highest in persons ages 15-39 years (98.3%) and ages 0-14 years (97.6%) as compared to those ages 40+ years (90.3%).

Introduction

The objective of the CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019 is to provide a comprehensive summary of the current descriptive epidemiology of primary brain and other CNS tumors in the US population. Primary brain and other CNS tumors include those tumors that originate from the tissues of the brain or CNS. CBTRUS obtained the latest available population-based data on all the reported newly diagnosed primary brain and other CNS tumors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program for diagnosis years 2015-2019. Incidence counts and rates of primary malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors are presented by histopathology, sex, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, and geographic location. Mortality rates calculated using the National Center for Health Statistics’ (NCHS) National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) data from 2015-2019, and relative survival rates, median survival, and adjusted hazard ratios for selected malignant and non-malignant histopathologies calculated using NPCR data for the period 2001-2018 (2004-2018 for non-malignant tumors) are also presented.

Background

CBTRUS is a unique professional research organization that focuses exclusively on providing high-quality statistical data on the population-based incidence of primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States (for more information on CBTRUS see: http://www.cbtrus.org/about/).1 CBTRUS was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1992 following a study conducted by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) to determine the feasibility of a population-based central registry focused on all reported primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States.

This report represents the thirtieth (30 th ) anniversary of CBTRUS and the twenty-fifth (25 th ) statistical report published by CBTRUS. For this eleventh (11th) report published as a Supplement to Neuro-Oncology, the official journal of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (http://www.soc-neuro-onc.org), CBTRUS continues its past efforts to provide the most up-to-date population-based incidence rates for all reported newly-diagnosed primary brain and other CNS tumors by behavior (malignant and non-malignant), histopathology, age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, selected (BMM), and geographic location. These data have been organized by clinically relevant histopathology groupings that reflect the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System, including selected molecularly-defined histopathologies beginning in diagnosis year 2018.2,3 These data provide important information for allocation and planning of specialty healthcare services such as clinical trials, disease prevention and control programs, and research activities. These data may also stimulate research into the causes of this group of diseases, which often result in significant morbidity and mortality.

CBTRUS is currently the only population-based site-specific registry in the United States that works in partnership with a public cancer surveillance organization, the CDC’s NPCR, and from which data are directly received through the NPCR Cancer Surveillance System (NPCR-CSS) Submission Specifications mechanism4 under a special agreement. Collection of central (state) cancer data was mandated in 1992 by Public Law 102-515, the Cancer Registries Amendment Act.5 This mandate was expanded to include non-malignant CNS tumors with the 2002 passage of Public Law 107–260, starting January 1, 2004.6 CBTRUS combines the NPCR data with data from the NCI’s SEER Program,7 which was established for national cancer surveillance in the early 1970s. All data from NPCR and SEER originate from tumor registrars who adhere to the Uniform Data Standards (UDS) for malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors as directed by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) (http://www.naaccr.org). Along with the UDS, there are quality control checks and a system for rating each central cancer registry (CCR) to ensure that these data are as accurate and complete as possible. As a surveillance partner, CBTRUS reports high-quality data on brain and other CNS tumors with histopathological specificity useful to the communities it serves.

The CBTRUS database is comprised of the largest histopathology-specific aggregation of population-based data limited to the incidence and survival of primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States, and it is likely the largest histopathology-specific aggregation of primary brain and other CNS tumor cases in the world. The CBTRUS database now includes both survival data from 42 CCRs and incidence data from all 52 CCRs in the United States and Puerto Rico (excluding Nevada cases from diagnosis years 2018-2019). Aggregate information on all cancers from all 52 CCRs (excluding Nevada cases from diagnosis years 2018-2019) in the United States, including primary brain and other CNS tumors, is available from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS).8

Anatomic Location of Tumor Sites

Various terms are used to describe the regions of the brain and other CNS. The specific sites used in this report are based on the topography codes found in the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and are broadly based on the categories and site codes defined in the SEER Site/Histology Validation List.9 CBTRUS groups ICD-O-3 sites C71.8 (Overlapping lesion of the brain) and C71.9 (Brain, Not Otherwise Specified [NOS]) into Other brain and C72.8 (Overlapping lesion of brain and CNS) and C72.9 (Nervous system, NOS) into Other nervous system for display in figures. This report also presents counts and incidence for specific sites separately in its tables. See Table 1 for the CBTRUS primary site groupings.

Table 1.

Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Site Groupings

Site ICD-O-3a Site Code
Olfactory tumors of the nasal cavityb C30.0
Meninges (cerebral & spinal) C70.0-C70.9
Cerebral meninges C70.0
Spinal meninges C70.1
Meninges, NOS C70.9
Cerebrum C71.0
Frontal lobe of brain C71.1
Temporal lobe of brain C71.2
Parietal lobe of brain C71.3
Occipital lobe of brain C71.4
Ventricle C71.5
Cerebellum C71.6
Brain stem C71.7
Other brainc C71.8-C71.9
Overlapping lesion of brain C71.8
Brain, NOS C71.9
Spinal cord and cauda equine C72.0-C72.1
Spinal cord C72.0
Cauda equine C72.1
Cranial nerves C72.2-C72.5
Olfactory nerve C72.2
Optic nerve C72.3
Acoustic nerve C72.4
Cranial nerve, NOS C72.5
Other nervous systemc C72.8-C72.9
Overlapping lesion of brain and central nervous system C72.8
Nervous system, NOS C72.9
Pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct C75.1-C75.2
Pituitary gland C75.1
Craniopharyngeal duct C75.2
Pineal gland C75.3

aInternational Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd Edition, 2000. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

bICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9522-9523 only.

cThese ICD-O-3 codes are combined for analysis in figures and tables presented in this report.

Abbreviations: NOS, not otherwise specified.

Classification by Histopathology

There are over 100 distinct types of primary CNS tumors, referred to as ‘histopathologies’, each with its own spectrum of clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes. These histopathologies are reviewed periodically by neuropathologists and published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Classification Reports known as “Blue Books.” Blue Books are published for all cancer sites by the WHO and utilize the ICD-O-3 for assignment of histopathology, behavior, and site codes. CBTRUS is using Histopathology Groupings according to 2016 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System.

The ICD-O-3 codes in this current CBTRUS grouping10 (Table 2) may include morphology codes that were not previously reported to CBTRUS.11 Gliomas are tumors that arise from glial or precursor cells and include glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, oligoastrocytoma (mixed glioma), and a few rare histopathologies. As there is no standard definition for gliomas, CBTRUS defines gliomas as ICD-O-3 
histopathology codes 9380-9384 and 9391-9460 as starred in Table 2. It is also important to note that the statistics for lymphomas and hematopoietic neoplasms contained in this report refer only to those lymphomas and hematopoietic neoplasms that arise in the brain and other CNS ICD-O-3 topography codes.

Table 2.

Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), 2021 Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Histopathology Groupings (Based on 2016 WHO Classification)

Histopathology ICD-O-3a Histopathology Codesb ICD-O-3a Histopathology and Behavior Codeb
Malignant Non-Malignant
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors
Diffuse astrocytoma* 9381, 9400, 9410, 9411, 9420, 9442/1 9381/3, 9400/3, 9410/3, 9411/3, 9420/3 9442/1
Anaplastic astrocytoma* 9401 9401/3 None
Glioblastoma* 9440, 9441, 9442/3, 9445c 9440/3, 9441/3, 9442/3, 9445/3 None
Oligodendroglioma* 9450 9450/3 None
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma* 9451, 9460 9451/3, 9460/3 None
Oligoastrocytic tumors* 9382 9382/3 None
Other Astrocytic Tumors
Pilocytic astrocytoma* 9421, 9425c 9421/1d, 9425/3 None
Unique astrocytoma variants* 9384, 9424, 9431c 9424/3 9384/1, 9431/1
Ependymal tumors* 9383, 9391 (excluding site C75.1 for behavior/1), 9392- 9394, 9396c 9391/3, 9392/3, 9393/3, 9396/3 9383/1, 9391/1 (excluding site C75.1), 9394/1
Other Gliomas
Glioma malignant, NOS* 9380, 9385c 9380/3, 9385/3 None
Other neuroepithelial tumors* 9423, 9430, 9444 9423/3, 9430/3 9444/1
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors* 8680, 8681, 8690, 8693, 9412, 9413, 9490, 9492 (excluding site C75.1), 9493, 9505, 9506, 9509c, 9522 (site C30.0 only), 9523 (site C30.0 only) 8680/3, 8693/3, 9490/3, 9505/3, 9509/3, 9522/3 (site C30.0 only), 9523/3 (site C30.0 only) 8680/0,1, 8681/1, 8690/1, 8693/1, 9412/1, 9413/0, 9442/1, 9490/0, 9492/0 (excluding site C75.1), 9493/0, 9505/0,1, 9506/1, 9509/1
Choroid Plexus Tumors 9390 9390/3 9390/0,1
Tumors of the Pineal Region 9360, 9361, 9362, 9395c 9362/3, 9395/3 9360/1, 9361/1
Embryonal Tumors 8963, 9364, 9470-9478c, 9480, 9500, 9501/3, 9502/3, 9508 8963/3, 9364/3, 9470/3, 9471/3, 9472/3, 9473/3, 9474/3, 9475/3, 9476/3, 9477/3, 9478/3, 9480/3, 9500/3, 9501/3, 9502/3, 9508/3 None
Medulloblastoma 9470-9472,9474-9478 9470/3, 9471/3, 9472/3,9474/3, 9475/3, 9476/3, 9477/3, 9478/3, None
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 9508 9508/3 None
Other embryonal tumorse 8963, 9364, 9473, 9480, 9500, 9501, 9502 8963/3, 9364/3, 9473/3, 9480/3, 9500/3, 9501/3, 9502/3 None
Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves
Nerve sheath tumors 9540, 9541, 9550, 9560, 9561, 9570, 9571 9540/3, 9560/3, 9561/3, 9571/3 9540/0,1, 9541/0, 9550/0, 9560/0,1, 9570/0, 9571/0
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves 9562, 9563 None 9562/0, 9563/0
Tumors of Meninges
Meningioma 9530-9535, 9537-9539 9530/3, 9538/3, 9539/3 9530/0,1, 9531/0, 9532/0, 9533/0, 9534/0, 9535/0, 9537/0, 9538/1, 9539/1
Mesenchymal tumors 8324, 8710, 8711, 8800-8806, 8810, 8811, 8815, 8821, 8824, 8825, 8830, 8831, 8835, 8836, 8840, 8850-8854, 8857, 8861, 8870, 8880, 8890, 8897, 8900-8902, 8910, 8912, 8920, 8921, 8935, 8990, 9040, 9120, 9125, 9130, 9131, 9136, 9150, 9161, 9170, 9180, 9210, 9220, 9231, 9240, 9241, 9243, 9260, 9370-9373 8710/3, 8711/3, 8800/3, 8801/3, 8802/3, 8803/3, 8804/3, 8805/3, 8806/3, 8810/3, 8811/3, 8815/3c, 8825/3, 8830/3, 8840/3, 8850/3, 8851/3, 8852/3, 8853/3, 8854/3, 8857/3, 8890/3, 8900/3, 8901/3, 8902/3, 8910/3, 8912/3, 8920/3, 8921/3, 8935/3, 8990/3, 9040/3, 9120/3, 9130/3, 9150/3, 9170/3, 9180/3, 9220/3, 9231/3, 9240/3, 9243/3, 9260/3, 9370/3, 9371/3, 9372/3 8324/0, 8711/0, 8800/0, 8810/0, 8811/0, 8815/0,1c, 8821/1, 8824/0,1, 8825/0,1, 8830/0,1, 8831/0, 8835/1, 8836/1, 8840/0, 8850/0,1, 8851/0, 8852/0, 8854/0, 8857/0, 8861/0, 8870/0, 8880/0, 8890/0,1, 8897/1, 8900/0, 8920/1, 8935/0,1, 8990/0,1, 9040/0, 9120/0, 9125/0, 9130/0,1, 9131/0, 9136/1, 9150/0,1, 9161/0,1, 9170/0, 9180/0, 9210/0, 9220/0, 9241/0, 9373/0
Primary melanocytic lesions 8720, 8728, 8770 8720/3, 8728/3, 8770/3 8728/0,1, 8770/0
Other neoplasms related to the meninges None None None
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms
Lymphoma 9590, 9591, 9596, 9650-9655, 9659, 9661-9665, 9667, 9670, 9671, 9673, 9675, 9680, 9684, 9687, 9688, 9690, 9691, 9695, 9698, 9699, 9701, 9702, 9705, 9712, 9714, 9715, 9719, 9724, 9727-9729, 9735, 9737, 9738, 9750, 9751, 9755, 9756, 9811-9819, 9823, 9826, 9827, 9831, 9832, 9837, 9861, 9866, 9930, 9965, 9966, 9967, 9970, 9971, 9975 9590/3, 9591/3, 9596/3, 9650/3, 9651/3, 9652/3, 9653/3, 9654/3, 9655/3, 9659/3, 9661/3, 9662/3, 9663/3, 9664/3, 9665/3, 9667/3, 9670/3, 9671/3, 9673/3, 9675/3, 9680/3, 9684/3, 9687/3, 9688/3, 9690/3, 9691/3, 9695/3, 9698/3, 9699/3, 9701/3, 9702/3, 9705/3, 9712/3, 9714/3, 9715/3, 9719/3, 9724/3, 9727/3, 9728/3, 9729/3, 9735/3, 9737/3, 9738/3, 9750/3, 9751/3, 9755/3, 9756/3, 9811/3, 9812/3, 9813/3, 9814/3, 9815/3, 9816/3, 9817/3, 9818/3, 9819/3, 9823/3, 9826/3, 9827/3, 9831/3, 9837/3, 9861/3, 9866/3, 9930/3, 9965/3, 9966/3, 9967/3, 9971/3, 9975/3 9750/1, 9751/1, 9766/1, 9970/1
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 9731, 9733, 9734, 9740, 9741, 9749, 9752-9754, 9757-9758, 9759, 9760, 9766, 9860, 9731/3, 9733/3, 9734/3, 9740/3, 9741/3, 9749/3, 9753/3, 9754/3, 9756/3, 9757/3, 9758/3, 9759/3, 9760/3, 9766/3, 9823/3, 9826/3, 9827/3, 9832/3, 9860/3, 9740/1, 9752/1, 9753/1, 9766/1
Germ Cell Tumors 8440, 9060, 9061, 9064, 9065, 9070-9072, 9080-9083, 9084/3, 9085, 9100, 9101 8440/3, 9060/3, 9061/3, 9064/3, 9065/3, 9070/3, 9071/3, 9072/3, 9080/3, 9081/3, 9082/3, 9083/3, 9084/3, 9085/3, 9100/3, 9101/3 8440/0, 9080/0,1
Tumors of Sellar Region
Tumors of the pituitary 8040 (site C75.1 only), 8140 (site C75.1 only), 8146 (site C75.1 only), 8246, 8260 (site C75.1 only), 8270-8272, 8280, 8281, 8290, 8300, 8310, 8323, 9391/1 (site C75.1 only), 9432c (site C75.1 only), 9492 (site C75.1 only), 9580, 9582 8140/3, 8246/3, 8260/3, 8270/3, 8272/3, 8280/3, 8281/3, 8290/3, 8300/3, 8310/3, 8323/3, 9580/3 8040/0,1, 8140/0,1, 8146/0, 8260/0, 8270/0, 8271/0, 8272/0, 8280/0, 8281/0, 8290/0, 8300/0, 8310/0, 8323/0, 9391/1 (site C75.1 only), 9432/1, 9492/0 (site C75.1 only), 9580/0, 9582/0
Craniopharyngioma 9350-9352 None 9350/1, 9351/1, 9352/1
Unclassified Tumors
Hemangioma 9121-9123, 9133, 9140 9133/3, 9140/3 9121/0, 9122/0, 9123/0, 9133/1
Neoplasm, unspecified 8000-8005, 8010, 8020, 8021 8000/3, 8001/3, 8002/3, 8003/3, 8004/3, 8005/3, 8010/3, 8020/3, 8021/3 8000/0,1, 8001/0,1, 8005/0, 8010/0
All other 8320, 8452, 8713, 8896, 8963, 8980, 9084/0, 9173, 9363, 9503 8320/3, 8452/3, 8896/3, 8980/3, 9503/3 8452/1, 8713/0, 9084/0, 9173/0, 9363/0

aInternational Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd Edition, 2000. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

bSee the CBTRUS website for additional information about the specific histopathology codes included in each group: http://www.cbtrus.org.

cAdded starting with diagnosis year 2018.

dThis histopathologically is re-coded from behavior /1 to /3 and included in estimates for malignant brain and other central nervous system tumors by cancer surveillance organizations. Please see the following for more information: Ostrom QT, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS. Pilocytic astrocytomas: where do they belong in cancer reporting? Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(2):298-300. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noz202.

eIncludes tumors formerly classified as primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (PNET).

* All or some of this histopathology is included in the CBTRUS definition of gliomas, including ICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9380-9384, 9391-9460.

Abbreviations: WHO, World Health Organization; NOS, not otherwise specified.

This report also utilizes the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) grouping system for pediatric brain and other CNS tumors. ICCC categories for this report were generated using the SEER Main and Extended Classification for ICCC Recode ICD-O-3/WHO 200812 based on the ICCC, Third edition13,14 and 2007 WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues15 (See Supplementary Table 1 for more information on this classification scheme). The ICCC was developed to provide a standard classification of childhood tumors for comparing incidence and survival across global geographic regions and time periods.

Classification by Behavior

Primary brain and other CNS tumors can be broadly classified as non-malignant (ICD-O-3 behavior codes of /0 for benign and /1 for uncertain) and malignant (ICD-O-3 behavior code of /3) (Table 2). Collection of central (state) cancer data was mandated in 1992 by Public Law 102-515 for all primary malignant tumors (ICD-O-3 behavior code 
of /3) (Table 2), the Cancer Registries Amendment Act.16 This mandate was expanded to include non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors (ICD-O-3 behavior code 
of /0 and /1) with the 2002 passage of Public Law 107–260, starting January 1, 2004.6

Classification by Brain Molecular Markers

Primary brain and other CNS tumors are a highly heterogeneous group of diseases, and characterization of unique tumor histopathologies within this group has been refined over time. The development of technologies for characterizing DNA sequence, RNA abundance as a measure of gene activity, and biochemical alterations that affect gene expression such as DNA methylation have led to the discovery of several factors (known as ‘biomarkers’) that can be used to more accurately classify these tumors than histopathologic appearance alone. See Table 3 for a brief overview of selected biomarkers for primary brain and other CNS tumors and for discussion of pediatric biomarkers specifically. With the increased recognition of the value of biomarkers for specific brain tumor histopathologies in classification, the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System included biomarkers in its 2016 revision. However, implementing the collection of these markers in cancer registration is multi-faceted and includes an ongoing educational and training component.

Table 3.

Summary of Biomarkers Identified for Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors and Collection Status in Central Cancer Registries

Gene or Marker Histopathology Outcome Collected by US Cancer Registry System
Large deletions (missing parts of the chromosome) in the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p) and the long arm of chromosome 19 (19q) Glioma (especially oligodendroglial tumors)1-5 Improved response to chemotherapy and radiation, and increased survival. Yes, collected as Site-specific factor 5 (2011-2017), Site-specific factor 6 (2011-2017), Site-specific data item: Chromosome 19q Status (2018+), Site-specific data item: Chromosome 1p Status (2018+).
Protein-truncating mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) or in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) Glioma (especially low grade astrocytomas and oligodendroglial tumors)4-6 Increased survival time. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), Site-specific data item: Brain Molecular Markers (2018+).
Loss of function mutation in alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X‐linked (ATRX) Glioma (especially IDH-mutated glioma)4,7,8 Increased survival time. No
Methylation of the promoter of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) Glioblastoma9-11 Limits ability of the tumor cells to repair DNA damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation; results in increased survival time. Yes, collected as Site-specific factor 4 (2011-2017) and Site-specific data item: MGMT (2018+).
Glioma-CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP), Genome-wide DNA methylation Glioblastoma5,12 Significantly increased survival time. No
Amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Glioblastoma5,13 Activates the RTK/RAS/PI3K pathway, leading to increased proliferation. Associated with poorer survival. No
Mutation of promotor of Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) Glioma (oligodendroglial tumors and IDH-wildtype glioblastoma)5,14,15 Facilitates increased telomere lengthening, and decreases survival in IDH-wildtype glioma. No
Mutation or fusion of B-Raf (BRAF) Glioma (particularly pediatric lower grade glioma)16 Activates the RAS/MAPK pathway. Fusion leads to improved survival. No
WNT-activated medulloblastoma Medulloblastoma17-20 Low prevalence of metastatic disease.
Highest five-year survival.
Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), collected via new ICD-O-3 code.
SHH-activated and TP53-mutant medulloblastoma Medulloblastoma17-21 Occur primary in older children, very poor prognosis. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), collected via new ICD-O-3 code.
SHH-activated and TP53-wildtype medulloblastoma Medulloblastoma17-21 Most common in adolescents and young children, good prognosis. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), collected via Site-specific data item: Brain Molecular Markers (2018+).
non-WNT/non-SHH, Group 3 medulloblastoma subtype (also known as Group C) Medulloblastoma17-20 Increased prevalence of metastatic disease. Poorest five-year survival. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), combined with group 4 and collected via new ICD-O-3 code.
non-WNT/non-SHH, Group 4 medulloblastoma subtype (also known as Group D) Medulloblastoma17-20 Increased prevalence of metastatic disease. Moderate five-year survival. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), combined with group 3 and collected via new ICD-O-3 code.
C19MC amplification and presence of multilayered rosettes Embryonal tumor22,23 Highly aggressive, with average survival of 12 months after diagnosis. Yes, began in collection year 2018 (January 1), collected via Site-specific data item: Brain Molecular Markers (2018+).

References

1. Cairncross JG, et al. Specific genetic predictors of chemotherapeutic response and survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1998; 90(19):1473-1479.

2. Vogelbaum MA, et al. Phase II trial of pre-irradiation and concurrent temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytomas: long term results of RTOG BR0131. J. Neurooncol. 2015; 124(3):413-420.

3. van den Bent MJ, et al. Adjuvant procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine chemotherapy in newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendroglioma: long-term follow-up of EORTC brain tumor group study 26951. J. Clin. Oncol. 2013; 31(3):344-350.

4. The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, et al. Comprehensive, Integrative Genomic Analysis of Diffuse Lower-Grade Gliomas. New Engl. J. Med. 2015; 372(26):2481-2498.

5. Ceccarelli M, et al. Molecular Profiling Reveals Biologically Discrete Subsets and Pathways of Progression in Diffuse Glioma. Cell. 2016; 164(3):550-563.

6. Yan H, et al. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in gliomas. New Engl. J. Med. 2009; 360(8):765-773.

7. Jiao Y, et al. Frequent ATRX, CIC, FUBP1 and IDH1 mutations refine the classification of malignant gliomas. Oncotarget. 2012; 3(7):709-722.

8. Wiestler B, et al. ATRX loss refines the classification of anaplastic gliomas and identifies a subgroup of IDH mutant astrocytic tumors with better prognosis. Acta Neuropathol. 2013; 126(3):443-451.

9. Hegi ME, et al. MGMT gene silencing and benefit from temozolomide in glioblastoma. New Engl. J. Med. 2005; 352(10):997-1003.

10. Stupp R, et al. Chemoradiotherapy in malignant glioma: standard of care and future directions. J. Clin. Oncol. 2007; 25(26):4127-4136.

11. Hegi ME, et al. Correlation of O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation with clinical outcomes in glioblastoma and clinical strategies to modulate MGMT activity. J. Clin. Oncol. 2008; 26(25):4189-4199.

12. Noushmehr H, et al. Identification of a CpG island methylator phenotype that defines a distinct subgroup of glioma. Cancer Cell. 2010; 17(5):510-522.

13. Maire CL, Ligon KL. Molecular pathologic diagnosis of epidermal growth factor receptor. Neuro Oncol. 2014; 16 Suppl 8:viii1-6.

14. Arita H, et al. Upregulating mutations in the TERT promoter commonly occur in adult malignant gliomas and are strongly associated with total 1p19q loss. Acta Neuropathol. 2013; 126(2):267-276.

15. Eckel-Passow JE, et al. Glioma Groups Based on 1p/19q, IDH, and TERT Promoter Mutations in Tumors. New Engl. J. Med. 2015; 372(26):2499-2508.

16. Hawkins C, et al. BRAF-KIAA1549 fusion predicts better clinical outcome in pediatric low-grade astrocytoma. Clin. Cancer Res. 2011; 17(14):4790-4798.

17. Kool M, et al. Molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma: an international meta-analysis of transcriptome, genetic aberrations, and clinical data of WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 medulloblastomas. Acta Neuropathol. 2012; 123(4):473-484.

18. Northcott PA, et al. Molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma. Expert Rev. Neurother. 2012; 12(7):871-884.

19. Northcott PA, et al. Medulloblastomics: the end of the beginning. Nat. Rev. Cancer. 2012; 12(12):818-834.

20. Northcott PA, et al. The whole-genome landscape of medulloblastoma subtypes. Nature. 2017; 547(7663):311-317.

21. Zhukova N, et al. Subgroup-specific prognostic implications of TP53 mutation in medulloblastoma. J. Clin. Oncol. 2013; 31(23):2927-2935.

22. Ceccom J, et al. Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes: diagnostic tools update and review of the literature. Clin. Neuropathol. 2014; 33(1):15-22.

23. Korshunov A, et al. Embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (ETANTR), ependymoblastoma, and medulloepithelioma share molecular similarity and comprise a single clinicopathological entity. Acta Neuropathol. 2014; 128(2):279-289.

As of 2011, SEER registries began collecting information on three validated biomarkers for primary brain and other CNS tumors as Site-Specific Factors (SSF): promoter methylation status of O-6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) (SSF 4), deletion of 1p (SSF 5), and deletion of 19q (SSF 6).17 Starting with diagnosis year 2018, the broad US cancer registry system began collecting information on multiple brain and other CNS markers, including isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) mutation, 1p/19q codeletion, medulloblastoma molecular subtypes, and all biomarkers found in 2016 WHO classification using the variable BMM (please see Supplementary Table 2 for an overview of applicable histopathologies and coding scheme). Additional molecularly-defined histopathologies from 2016 WHO were added using their new ICD-O-3 codes for which collection also began in 2018 (See Supplementary Table 3 for an overview of codes added in 2018). These data were available to CBTRUS for the first time with the 2021 NPCR and SEER data releases. As such these data are for the 2018 and 2019 diagnosis years only. CBTRUS evaluated the completeness of these markers in their first year (2018) of collection (please see Iorgulescu et al.18), and completeness of BMM for 2018 and 2019 is shown in Figure 3. 
CBTRUS is actively working to have all biomarkers included in the 2021 WHO classification included in cancer collection practices.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Completeness of the Brain Molecular Marker Variablea by Year at Diagnosis for Selected Histopathologies by ICD-O-3 Code, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2018-2019

Classification by WHO Grade

Unlike other types of cancer which are staged according to the American Joint Commission of Cancer (AJCC) schema, primary brain and other CNS tumors are not staged. They are classified according to the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System which assigns a grade (grade I through grade IV assigned prior to 2021 WHO Classification) based on predicted clinical behavior. The WHO classification scheme was first released in 2000,19 and though it was updated in 200720 and 2016,2 these updated schema were not fully implemented by US CCRs until diagnosis year 2019 or reporting year 2022. Updates made in 2007 and 2016 may affect diagnostic practices used in characterization of individual tumors included in this report. Significant changes were made to grading nomenclature and criteria in the 2021 fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System which are not yet reflected in the characterization of tumors included in this report. As of the 2021 WHO classification, grade is clinically reported using Arabic numerals, but for the purpose of reporting grade for cases collected under prior WHO Classification versions, CBTRUS continues to use Roman numerals.

The WHO grading assignments are recorded by cancer registrars as Collaborative Stage Site-Specific Factor 
(CS SSF)1 - WHO Grade Classification as directed in the AJCC, Eighth Edition, Chapter 72 on Brain and Spinal Cord21 (cases diagnosed from 2011-2017), Site-Specific Data Items (SSDI) Grade Pathological (cases diagnosed in 2018 or later), and SSDI Grade Clinical (cases diagnosed in 2018 or later). SSF variables were a required component of cancer registry data collection for brain and other CNS tumors beginning in 2004 for SEER registries, and beginning in 2011 for NPCR registries, and were collected through 2017 at which point they were replaced with SSDI. Completeness of these variables have improved significantly over time.17,22

Completeness of this variable is defined as having a value equal to WHO grade I, II, III, or IV. Cases where WHO grade is marked as ‘not applicable’ or ‘not documented’ are considered incomplete. It is not possible to conclusively determine WHO grade, which is based on the appearance of tumor cells, when a tumor is radiographically-confirmed only. Some tumor types (including tumors of the pituitary and lymphomas) are often not assigned a WHO grade. This information may also be assigned but not included in the pathology report.

Brain Tumor Definition Differences

Currently, NPCR, SEER, and NAACCR report primary brain and other CNS tumors differently from CBTRUS. The definition of primary brain and other CNS tumors used by these organizations in their published incidence and mortality statistics includes tumors located in the following sites with their ICD-O-3 site codes in parentheses: brain, meninges, and other CNS tumors (C70.0-9, C71.0-9, and C72.0-9), but excludes lymphoma and leukemia histopathologies (ICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9590-9989) from all brain and other CNS sites.23 In contrast, CBTRUS reports data on all tumor morphologies located within the Consensus Conference site definition including lymphoma and other hematopoietic histopathologies, tumors of the pituitary, and olfactory tumors of the nasal cavity (C30.0 [9522-9523]).11 Additionally, CBTRUS reports data on primary brain and other CNS tumors irrespective of behavior, whereas many reporting organizations may only publish rates for malignant brain and other CNS tumors due to the original mandate that focused only on malignant tumors, sometimes using the term “cancer” to broadly identify these tumors in their reports. These differences in definition therefore influence the direct comparison of published rates.

CBTRUS is currently engaged in ongoing collaboration with other cancer registry reporting groups, including SEER, to harmonize brain tumor reporting definitions. Therefore, it is likely that these reporting differences will cease to exist in the future.

Pilocytic astrocytoma is clinically considered and classified as a grade I, non-malignant (ICD-O-3 behavior code of /1) tumor by the WHO guidelines for brain and other CNS tumors.2 For the purposes of cancer registration, these tumors have historically been reported as malignant (ICD-O-3 behavior code of /3) tumors both in the United States and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and International Association of Cancer Registries.24,25 Classification of these tumors as malignant has been followed by CBTRUS in its reporting unless otherwise stated. This practice does not correlate with their clinical classification (WHO Classification) and presents a challenge to correctly report population-based incidence and survival patterns associated with these tumors. Please see recent publications for additional discussion of the effect of this classification on cancer incidence and survival reporting.26,27

In the United States, cancer registries and surveillance groups only collect data on primary CNS tumors (meaning tumors that originate within the brain and spinal cord) and do not collect data on tumors that metastasize to the brain or spinal cord from other primary sites. As a result, only primary brain and other CNS tumors are included in this report.

TECHNICAL NOTES

Data Collection

CBTRUS does not collect data directly from patients’ medical records. Registration of individual cases (tumors) is conducted by cancer registrars at the institution where diagnosis and/or treatment occur and is then transmitted to the CCR, which further transmits this information to NPCR and/or SEER. Some CCRs also send their data to SEER; data from those CCRs are taken from the NPCR file to eliminate duplicate cases. As noted, data for CBTRUS analyses come from the NPCR and SEER programs. By law, all primary malignant and non-malignant CNS tumors are reportable diseases and CCRs play an essential role in the collection process. Brain and other CNS tumors are reported using the site definition described in Public Law 107-260.6 These data are population-based and represent a comprehensive documentation of all reported cancers diagnosed within a geographic region for the years included in this report.

CBTRUS obtained de-identified incidence data from 52 CCRs (48 NPCR and 4 SEER) that include cases of malignant and non-malignant (benign and uncertain behaviors) primary brain and other CNS tumors. The population-based CCRs include 50 state registries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (Figure 1). Data were requested for all reported primary malignant and non-malignant tumors that were newly diagnosed from 2015 to 2019 at any of the following ICD-O-3 anatomic sites: brain, meninges, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other parts of the CNS, pituitary and pineal glands, and olfactory tumors of the nasal cavity (ICD-O-3 site code C30.0 and histopathology codes 9522-9523 only) (Table 1).10

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Availability by Central Cancer Registry for SEER and NPCR Incidence (2015-2019) and Survival Data (2001-2018)

NPCR provided data on 444,976 primary brain and other CNS tumors diagnosed from 2015 to 2019 (Figure 2). An additional 13,832 case records for the period were obtained from SEER for primary brain and other CNS tumor case records from 2015 to 2019 for Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, and New Mexico only. These data were combined into a single dataset of 458,808 records for quality control. A total of 10,880 records (2.4%) were deleted from the final analytic dataset for one or more of the following reasons:

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Overview of CBTRUS Data Edits Workflow, NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • Records with ICD-O-3 behavior code of /2 (indicates in situ cases, which is not a relevant classification for brain and other CNS tumors).

  • Records with an invalid site/histopathology combination according to the CBTRUS histopathology grouping scheme.

  • Possible duplicate records that included a less accurate reporting source than microscopic confirmation, also referred to as histopathologic confirmation (e.g. radiographic versus microscopic confirmation), possible duplicate record for recurrent disease, or errors in time sequence of diagnosis.

  • Possible duplicate records for bilateral vestibular schwannoma or meningiomas that were merged to one paired-site record.

The final analytic dataset had 447,928 records, which included 445,792 records from the 50 state CCRs and the District of Columbia used in the analytic dataset, and an additional 2,136 records from Puerto Rico. Records from Puerto Rico are included only in a supplementary analysis (See Supplemental Material), and these cases are not included in the overall statistics presented in this report. Data were not available from Nevada for diagnosis years 2018 and 2019 due to data quality issues.

Age-adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 population for the entire United States for selected other cancers were obtained from the USCS, produced by the CDC and the NCI, for the purpose of comparison with brain and other CNS tumor incidence rates.8 This database includes both NPCR and SEER data and represents the entire US population.

De-identified survival data for malignant brain and other CNS tumors were obtained from NPCR for 42 CCRs for the years 2001 to 2018 and for non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors for the years 2004 to 2018. This dataset provides population-based information for 82% of the US population for the years 2001 to 2018 and is a subset of the data used for the incidence calculations presented in this report. Survival information is derived from both active and passive follow-up.

Mortality data used in this report are from the NVSS and include deaths where primary brain or other CNS tumor was listed as primary cause of death on the death certificate for individuals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These data were obtained from NVSS28 (includes death certification data for 100% of the US population) for malignant brain and other CNS tumors and comparison via SEER*Stat (for malignant brain tumors and comparison cancers). NVSS data are not collected through the cancer registration system. These data represent the primary cause of death listed on each individual death certificate, and as a result, deaths in persons with cancer may be recorded as non-cancer deaths.

Definitions

Measures in Surveillance Epidemiology

The CBTRUS Statistical Report presents the following population-based measures: incidence rates, mortality rates, observed survival (median survival time and hazard ratios), and relative survival rates (for more information on definitions of terms and measures used see: https://cbtrus.org/cbtrus-glossary/).

Variable Completeness in Cancer Registration

Obtaining the most accurate and complete cancer registration data possible is essential to generate accurate population-level statistics to guide public health planning. Agencies such as NAACCR and International Agency for Cancer Research (IACR) have developed stringent standards for evaluation of cancer registry data quality, and evaluate each specific registry by multiple metrics before including it in analytic datasets.29,30 While many measures of quality and completeness are assessed across all cancer sites, some variables are pertinent only to specific sites and/or histopathologies and require special care. In the case of primary brain and other CNS tumors, variables such as WHO grade are not relevant to certain histopathologies (e.g. many tumors of the pituitary) that are not assigned a WHO grade. Similarly, the BMM variable is applicable only to specific histopathologies. Variables like WHO grade or BMM may also not be expected to be found in the patient record for those who had their diagnosis confirmed via radiography as compared to histopathological examination. The 2022 CBTRUS Report evaluates the completeness of multiple variables, including: WHO grade (applicable to specific brain and other CNS sites and histopathologies only), BMM (applicable to specific histopathologies only), extent of surgical resection, and radiation treatment.

Statistical Methods

Statistical Software

Counts, means, medians, rates, ratios, proportions, and other relevant statistics were calculated using R 4.1.3 statistical software31 and/or SEER*Stat 8.4.0.32 Figures and tables were created in R 4.1.3 using the following packages: flextable, officer, orca, plotly, SEER2R, sf, survminer, tigris, and tidyverse.33-42 Rates are suppressed when counts are fewer than 16 within a cell but included in totals, except when data are suppressed from only one cell to prevent identification of the number in the suppressed cell. NOTE: reported percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Variable Definitions

CBTRUS presents statistics on the pediatric and adolescent age group 0-19 years as suggested by clinicians for clinical relevance. However, the 0-14 years age group is a standard age category for childhood cancer used by other cancer surveillance organizations and has been included in this report for consistency and comparison purposes.

Race categories in this report are all races: White, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native (AIAN), and Asian/Pacific Islander (API). Other race, unspecified, and unknown race are included in statistics that are not race-specific. Hispanic ethnicity was defined using the NAACCR Hispanic Identification Algorithm, version 2, data element, which utilizes a combination of cancer registry data fields (Spanish/Hispanic Origin data element, birthplace, race, and surnames) to directly and indirectly classify cases as Hispanic or non-Hispanic.43

Estimation of Incidence Rates and Incidence Rate Ratios

Population data for each geographic region were obtained from the SEER program website44 for the purpose of rate calculation. All rates presented in this statistical report are age-adjusted. Crude incidence rates are calculated by dividing the total number of cases by the total population and cannot be compared to crude rates from other populations where the age distribution is different. Age-adjustment is a technique that is used to enable comparison between groups with different age distributions, such as rates between different states. Rates that have been age-adjusted are estimates of what the crude rate would be if the age distribution is equivalent to a standard population. Average annual age-adjusted incidence rates (AAAIR), average annual age-adjusted mortality rates (AAAMR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated per 100,000 population based on five-year age groups and were standardized to the 2000 US standard population for consistency with other US reporting agencies.45

Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were generated based on these age-adjusted incidence rates. These IRR were used to compare groups, using the formulas described by Fay et al. to calculate p-values.46 Incidence rate ratios were considered statistically significantly different when the p-value was less than 0.05.

When comparing two rates to one another, it is important to consider whether they are truly different or whether the difference in the estimates may be due to random error. Two methods are used in this report for determining whether two values are ‘significantly different,’ meaning whether the evidence meets a level of strength (usually a 5% chance of error) where the difference can be assumed to not be due to random error. The first is the use of a 95% CI, which were calculated for all presented rates in this Report. A 95% CI is a range around an estimate, which, if sampling of the population were to be repeated, should contain the ‘true’ value for the population 95% of the time. If the CI of two estimates do not overlap, these values are considered significantly different with a less than 5% probability of happening by chance. The second method used is the calculation of p-values. A p-value is the probability of finding the observed or more extreme results by chance alone, and a p-value of <0.05 (or <5% chance of results being due to chance) is conventionally used as a cut-off for considering a value statistically significant. Therefore, a p-value <0.0001 could be interpreted as meaning the observed value (or a more extreme value) had a <0.01% chance of occurring by chance alone, and the difference can be considered statistically significant at the 0.01% level.

Estimation of Incidence Time Trends

Joinpoint 4.10.0.047 was used to estimate incidence time trends and generate annual percentage changes (APC) and 95% CI. Rather than calculating a single consistent slope of change over an entire period of time, Joinpoint allows for points where the slope of the trend can change during the time period (joinpoints). This method starts with a model that assumes one consistent trend over time, and tests whether the addition of these ‘joinpoints’ results in a model which has a fit that represents a statistically significant improvement over the model with no joinpoints. These models are tested through use of Monte Carlo permutations, e.g. the program repeats the same analysis multiple times using random samples to identify the ‘true’ proportion of times that a comparison is statistically significant. The models allowed for a maximum of three joinpoints (two for non-malignant tumors), a minimum of three observations from a joinpoint to either end of the time-period, and a minimum of three observations between joinpoints.48 The best fitting model is selected and may include anywhere from one to four trend periods depending on identified inflection points (maximum of three for non-malignant tumors) and number of years included in the model.

APC is the average percent change in incidence per year over the period included in the trend segment. Time trends analysis methods were used to estimate if the APC was significantly different from 0% (meaning no change in incidence from year to year). The 95% CI is a range around an estimate that, if sampling of the population were to be repeated, should contain the ‘true’ value for the population 95% of the time. If the 95% CI contains zero, one cannot be confident that the ‘true’ population APC value is significantly different from 0%. The joinpoint regression program fits a linear regression to annual incidence rates to test significance of changes overtime, with different trends lines connected at ‘joinpoints’ where there are changes in the direction of incidence trends. The best fitting model was determined through permutation tests, with a minimum of three observations required between two joinpoints, as well as a minimum of three observations required between a joinpoint and either end of the time-period.

Estimation of Expected Numbers of Brain and Other CNS Tumors in 2022 and 2023

Estimated numbers of expected primary malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors were calculated for 2022 and 2023. To project estimates of newly diagnosed brain and other CNS tumors in 2022 and 2023, age-adjusted annual brain tumor case counts were generated for 2000-2019 for malignant tumors, and 2006-2019 for non-malignant tumors (with the exception of CCR-specific estimates for Nevada, where diagnosis years 2018 and 2019 were not available due to data quality issues). These were generated by state, age, and histopathologic type. Joinpoint 4.10.0.047 was used to fit regression models to these case counts,49 which were used to predict numbers of cases in future years using the parameter from the selected models. Joinpoint regression allows for multiple lines to be fitted to incidence data across time, rather than assuming a consistent trend across the whole period. The points where these lines intersect are called ‘joinpoints’. The models allowed for a maximum of two joinpoints (one for non-malignant tumors), a minimum of three observations from a joinpoint to either end of the data, and a minimum of three observations between joinpoints.48 Modified Bayesian Information Criterion procedures included in Joinpoint were used to select the best fitting model. The overall totals presented are based on total malignant and non-malignant incidence, and the presented stratified rates may not add up to these totals.

Estimated numbers of cases are highly dependent on input data. Different patterns of incidence within strata can significantly affect the projected estimates, especially when the number of cases within a stratum is low. For CCR-specific projections, a model with no joinpoints was used to generate predictions as annual variability within some groups was extremely high. As a result, strata-specific estimates may not equal the total estimate presented. As these estimates are based on 14-20 years of observed data, projected totals may not be equal to average annual cases estimate from the last five years of data. Caution should be used when utilizing these estimates.

Estimation of Mortality Rates for Brain and Other CNS Tumors

Age-adjusted mortality rates for deaths resulting from all primary malignant brain and other CNS tumors were calculated using the mortality data available in SEER*Stat Online Database provided by NCHS from death certificates per 100,000 population.28 These data were available for 50 states and the District of Columbia only. In addition to the total age-adjusted rate for the United States, age-adjusted rates are presented by sex and state.

Survival Measures Used in This Report

Relative Survival Rates

Relative survival is a way of presenting survival patterns at a population level that is commonly used in cancer statistics reporting. This measure is presented as a percent of people living a period of time (e.g. five years after their diagnosis). Relative survival is calculated using observed survival (the percentage of people diagnosed with cancer that live to the period of time for which relative survival is calculated) and estimated survival (the percent of the general population of the same age that is expected to survive after being followed for that same period of time). This adjustment for estimated survival attempts to exclude deaths that would otherwise have occurred due to other causes. For example, if five-year relative survival for glioblastoma is 5%, that means that out of every 100 people diagnosed with glioblastoma, five will be living five years after diagnosis, excluding deaths attributed to other causes.

SEER*Stat 8.4.0 statistical software was used to estimate relative survival rates for primary malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumor cases diagnosed between 2004-2018 in 42 NPCR CCRs. This software utilizes life-table (actuarial) methods to compute survival estimates and accounts for current follow-up. Second or later primary tumors, cases diagnosed at autopsy, cases in which race or sex is coded as other or unknown, and cases known to be alive but for whom follow-up time could not be calculated, were excluded from survival data analyses.

Observed Survival with Median Survival Times and Adjusted Hazard Ratios

Median survival time is another way of presenting survival patterns in a population. This measure is calculated using a method called a Kaplan-Meier estimator, which is used to estimate the proportion of individuals within a set that are alive at particular time points. The median survival time is the point at which exactly 50% of individuals have either died or been ‘censored’, meaning that their further survival status is unknown beyond a particular date.

Median survival time for all reported primary malignant brain and other CNS tumors diagnosed between 2001-2018 in 42 NPCR CCRs was calculated by histopathology using the Kaplan-Meier method in R 4.1.3 statistical software31 overall, as well as by three age groups (0-14 years old, 15-39 years old, and 40+ years old). Second or later primary tumors, cases diagnosed at autopsy, cases in which either race or sex is coded as other or unknown, and cases known to be alive but for whom follow-up time could not be calculated, were excluded from survival data analyses. NAACCR data item #1787, survival months presumed alive, was used to ascertain follow-up information.

The hazard ratio is a measure of how often an event (in this case, death) occurs in one group as compared to another group over time. A hazard ratio of one means that survival is equal in both groups, while a ratio of less than one means that survival is better in the comparison group than in the reference group. A ratio of greater than one means that survival is worse in the comparison group than in the reference group.

Cox proportional hazard models were used to test associations between demographic factors and overall survival by histopathology for malignant brain and other CNS tumors. All models were adjusted for age at diagnosis group (0-14 years [reference], 15-39 years, 40+ years), sex (male [reference], female), and race and ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic [reference], Black Non-Hispanic, AIAN Non-Hispanic, API Non-Hispanic, and Hispanic All Races). These models were used to estimate hazard ratios associated with each group and corresponding 95% CI and p-values. Adjusted estimates included all covariates (age at diagnosis, sex, race, and ethnicity) a priori, regardless of individual significance level. The proportional hazards assumption was tested separately by histopathology, and residuals were examined for all variables.

Data Interpretation

CBTRUS works diligently to support the broader surveillance efforts aimed at improving the collection and reporting of primary brain and other CNS tumors. CCR data provided to NPCR and SEER and, subsequently, to CBTRUS vary from year-to-year due to ongoing updates to cases from all cancer diagnosis years, as well as changes in collection and data refinement aimed to improve completeness and accuracy. Therefore, it is important to note that data from previous CBTRUS Reports cannot be compared to data in this current report, CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019. This current report supersedes all previous reports in terms of coverage of the US population with the most up-to-date population-based information available, making these data the most accurate and timely to reference.

Several factors should be considered when interpreting the data presented in this report:

  • Incident counts of cases represent individual tumors and not persons. A single person could contribute multiple primary tumor cases to the data included in this report. The 445,792 tumors included in this report came from 439,916 individuals. Of these individuals, there were 5,439 individuals (1.2%) that contributed information on multiple tumors (two or more) to this report.

  • Data may be excluded from individual CCRs for specific years due to incomplete case ascertainment.

  • Random fluctuations in average annual rates are common, especially for rates based on small case counts. The CBTRUS policy to suppress data in cells with counts of fewer than 16 cases is consistent with the NPCR policy.

  • A 2007 policy change guiding the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) may have resulted in probable underreporting of cancer data—especially for males—to CCRs. Recent investigations suggest that underreporting for VHA facilities has diminished over time, and that the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry (VACCR) now captures approximately 87-90% of cases.50,51 It is important to note that improved reporting to VACCR does not necessarily mean that reporting to the state CCR has improved. The VACCR does not submit data directly to NPCR or SEER.

  • Delays in reporting and late ascertainment are a reality and a known issue influencing registry completeness and, consequently, rate underestimations occur, especially for the most recent years.52,53,54 The SEER and NPCR programs allow for reporting delay of up to 22-23 months prior to public data release, but additional cases may still be discovered after that point. On average across all cancer sites, the submissions for the most recent diagnosis year are approximately 4% lower than the total number of cases that will eventually be submitted. This problem may be even more likely to occur in the reporting of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors, where reporting often comes from non-hospital-based sources, such as free-standing clinics or outpatient facilities.

  • Type of diagnostic confirmation may also lead to increased reporting delay, with histopathologically-confirmed tumors being subject to less reporting delay than radiographically-confirmed tumors. In 2016, a study assessing the incidence of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors corroborated the large variation in incidence between CCRs reported in this statistical report.55 The reasons for this variation remain inconclusive but what is consistently noted is the correlation between high incidence and high proportion of non-malignant cases collected without microscopic confirmation or surgery, in other words, clinically diagnosed cases of non-malignant brain tumors. At this current time, given the variation across CCRs, there is potential evidence of underreporting of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors, the extent to which cannot be quantified at this time.55

  • Population estimates used for denominators affect incidence rates. CBTRUS has utilized population estimates based on the 2000 US Census for calculation of incidence and mortality rates in this report, as is standard practice in US cancer registry reporting.56,57

CBTRUS editing practices are reviewed, revised, and conducted yearly. These practices are aimed at refining the data for accuracy and clinical relevance and play a role in interpreting these report data. Exclusion of site and histopathology combinations considered invalid by the consulting neuropathologists who revised the CBTRUS site/histopathology validation list in 2021 may have the impact of underestimating the incidence of brain and other CNS tumors. Editing changes, such as the Multiple Primary and Histology Rules issued in 2007 and revised in 2018,58,59 also incorporate updates to the cancer registration coding rules that influence case ascertainment and data collection.23

Supplemental Data

CBTRUS has made supplemental additional figures and tables available. These materials are noted in the text as Supplementary Tables and Figures.

RESULTS

Incidence and Mortality in Comparison to Other Common Neoplasms in the United States

AAAIRs for primary brain and other CNS tumors (2015-2019) and a selection of common cancers (USCS, 2015-2019) in the United States are presented by age in Figure 4A for Children (ages 0-14 years), Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) (ages 15-39 years), and Older Adults (ages 40+ years).

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

A) Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa with 95% Confidence Intervals of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors in Comparison to Top Eight Highest Incidence Cancers for Children Ages 0-14 Years, Adolescents and Young Adults Ages 15-39 Years, and Older Adults Ages 40+ Years, B) Average Annual Age-Adjusted Mortality Ratesa with 95% Confidence Intervals of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors in Comparison to Top Five Causes of Cancer Death and Top Three Non-Cancer Causes of Death for Children Ages 0-14 Years, Adolescents and Young Adults Ages 15-39 Years, and Older Adults Ages 40+ Years, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019; and NVSS, 2015-2019

  • Brain and other CNS tumors (both malignant and non-malignant) were the most common tumor site in persons ages 0-14 years, with an AAAIR of 5.96 per 100,000 population.

  • Leukemia was the second most common tumor in persons ages 0-14 years, with an AAAIR of 5.06 per 100,000 population.

  • Brain and other CNS tumors (both malignant and non-malignant) among those ages 15-39 years had an AAAIR of 12.21 per 100,000 population. These tumors were the second most common tumor type in this age group.

  • Testicular cancer (males only) was the most common tumor type in males ages 15-39 years with an AAAIR of 10.96 per 100,000.

  • Breast cancer (females only) was the most common tumor type among those ages 15-39 years and 40+ years with AAAIRs of 22.77 and 278.77 per 100,000, respectively.

  • The second most common tumor type among those ages 40+ years was prostate cancer, which had an incidence rate of 255.06 per 100,000 (males only).

  • Brain and other CNS tumors (both malignant and non-malignant) were the seventh most common tumor type among persons age 40+ years with an AAAIR of 44.82 per 100,000 population.

AAAMR for primary malignant brain and other CNS tumors (2015-2019), a selection of common cancers, and the top three non-cancer causes of death in the United States are presented by age in Figure 4B.

  • The most common causes of death in persons ages 0-14 years were perinatal conditions (18.30 per 100,000).

  • Childhood brain and other CNS cancer, while rare, contributes substantially to cancer related mortality in children 0-14 years old. Malignant brain and other CNS tumors among persons ages 0-14 years had an AAAMR of 0.69 per 100,000 and were the fourth most common cause of death in this age group, and the most common cause of cancer death.

  • Accidents and adverse effects were the leading causes of death in persons ages 15-39 years (43.87 per 100,000).

  • Malignant brain and other CNS tumors among persons ages 15-39 years had an AAAMR of 0.97 per 100,000 and were the 11th most common cause of death in this age group and the second most common cause of cancer death, where their AAAMR was similar to that of leukemia (0.89 per 100,000).

  • Breast cancer (female only) was the most common cause of cancer death in this age group (2.25 per 100,000).

  • Heart disease was the largest contributor to mortality in persons ages 40+ years in the United States, with an AAAMR of 376.11 per 100,000 for major cardiovascular diseases.

  • Malignant brain and other CNS tumors among persons ages 40+ years had an AAAMR of 9.11 per 100,000 and were the 26th most common cause of death.

  • Lung and bronchus cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in those ages 40+ years (85.03 per 100,000).

Time Trends in Primary Brain and Other CNS Tumors

Time trends in cancer incidence rates are an important measure of the changing burden of cancer in a population over time. Many factors may lead to fluctuations in rates over time, and all of these must be considered when interpreting time trend results. When assessing trends in incidence over time it is critical to use the most recent data available, as delay in reporting may cause small fluctuations in incidence. Time trends analysis methods are used to estimate if the APC is significantly different from 0% (meaning no change in incidence from year to year). In addition to assessing statistical significance of changes in incidence over time, the size of this change must also be considered because with datasets as large as CBTRUS, miniscule fluctuations in incidence over time may be statistically significant, but not truly represent a large change in proportion of individuals over time.

Incidence rates of cancer overall and many specific cancer histopathologies have decreased over time.60 Overall, changes in incidence rates of all primary brain and other CNS tumors between 2000 and 2019 (limited to 2004 and 2019 for non-malignant tumors) have been small. As stated previously, there are many things that can affect incidence rates over time that are not related to ‘true’ changes in incidence of these tumors such as demographic changes, changes in histopathology classification, and changes in cancer registration procedures. The latter is especially applicable to the collection of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors.

Malignant Brain and Other CNS Tumors

Please see Figure 5B for an overview of histopathologies included in all malignant brain and other CNS tumors.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

Distributiona of Malignant Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=126,345; Annual Average Cases=25,269) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics - NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • Overall, there have been no substantial changes in incidence of malignant brain tumors from 2000-2019.

  • From 2007-2016, there was a slight decrease in overall incidence (APC= -0.5% [95%CI: -0.7%, -0.3%], Figure 6, Supplementary Table 4).

  • There was a small but statistically significant increase in incidence in children (ages 0-14 years, APC=0.9% [95%CI: 0.6%, 1.2%]), a small but statistically significant decrease in AYA (ages 15-39 years, APC=-0.3% [95%CI: -0.5%, -0.2%]) from 2000-2016, and a small but statistically significant decrease in older adults from 2005-2016 (ages 40+ years, APC=
-0.7% [95%CI: -0.8%, -0.5%] Figure 6, Supplementary Table 4).

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors and Incidence Trends by Behavior and Age Group at Diagnosis, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2000-2019 (varying)

Glioma

Please see Figure 7B for an overview of histopathologies included in in the broad category of glioma and Figure 8 for incidence trends of selected glioma histopathologies.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 7

Distributiona of Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Gliomas (ICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9380-9384 and 9391-9460) (Five-Year Total=106,808; Annual Average Cases=21,362) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics - NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Fig. 8.

Fig. 8

Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Gliomas and Incidence Trends by Age Group at Diagnosis, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2000-2019

  • There was a slight increase in overall incidence of malignant gliomas (behavior codes /3 only) from 2000-2007 (APC=0.3% [95%CI: 0.0%, 0.6%]), followed by a small but significant decrease in incidence from 2007-2016 (APC= -0.4% [95%CI: -0.6%, -0.1%]) and 2016-2019 (APC= -2.1% [95%CI: -3.1%, -1.1%], Supplementary Table 4).

  • There was a significant increase in incidence in children (ages 0-14 years, APC=1.2% [95%CI: 0.8%, 1.5%]) from 2000-2016, and a significant decrease in incidence in AYA from 2014-2019 (ages 15-39 years, APC=-1.4% [95%CI: 1.2%, 4.0%], Supplementary Table 4).

  • Incidence in older adults (ages 40+ years) was relatively stable: there was a small but statistically significant decrease from 2007-2019 (APC= -0.7% [95%CI: -0.9%, -0.6%], Supplementary Table 4).

Malignant Meningioma
  • There was a significant decrease in incidence from 2000-2003 (APC= -1.2% [95%CI: -7.7%, 5.9%] and from 2014-2019 (APC= -6.9% [95%CI: -10.1%, -3.6%], Figure 9B, Supplementary Table 5).

  • Changes were made to diagnostic and grading criteria for meningioma in both the 2000 and 2007 revisions of the WHO classification, and gradual uptake of these classification changes may result in changing incidence of these tumors.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 9

Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors and Incidence Trends by Histopathology for Selected A) Non-Malignant and B) Malignant Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2000-2019 (varying)

Non-Malignant Brain and Other CNS Tumors

Please see Figure 10B for an overview of histopathologies included in all non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 10

Distributiona of All Non-Malignant Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=319,447; Annual Average Cases=63,887) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • Overall, incidence of non-malignant brain tumors increased substantially after collection of these cases began by CCRs in 2004, likely attributed to improvements in collection with each collection year.

  • There was a significant increase in incidence of non-malignant brain tumors from 2004-2008 (APC=5.9% [95%CI: 3.8%, 8.1%]), and 2008-2016 (APC=1.6% [95% CI: 0.9%, 2.4%]). There was no significant change from 2016-2019 (Supplementary Table 6).

  • There was a small, but statistically significant, increase in incidence of these non-malignant brain tumors in children (2004-2014, APC=3.1% [95%CI: 2.2%, 4.0%]), in AYA (2004-2009, APC=6.2% [95%CI: 4.1%, 8.3%]), and in older adults (2004-2008, APC=5.7% [95%CI: 3.6%, 7.9%], Supplementary Table 4).

  • Incidence trends varied depending on diagnostic method. When analysis was limited to microscopically-confirmed tumors only, there was a small but significant increase in the incidence of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors from 2004-2008 (APC=2.0% [95%CI: 0.4%, 3.6%]), followed by an insignificant decrease from 2008-2016 (APC=-0.3% [95% CI -0.9%, -0.3%]), and a significant decrease from 2016-2019 (APC= -2.5% [95% CI: -4.8%, -0.2%], Supplementary Table 7).

  • Radiographically-confirmed tumors experienced substantially higher increases in incidence. There was a statistically significant increase in incidence of radiographically-confirmed non-malignant tumors from 2004-2009 (APC=9.4% [95%CI: 7.1%, 11.8%]), with smaller but statistically significant increase from 2009-2016 (APC=2.9% [95%CI: 1.6%, 4.2%], Supplementary Table 7).

  • The increases in incidence in the non-malignant tumors are partially attributable to improved collection of radiographically-diagnosed cases as well as improvement in collection of non-malignant cases in general over time.

Non-Malignant Meningiomas
  • There was a significant increase of non-malignant meningiomas between 2004-2008 (APC=6.0% [95%CI: 3.7%, 8.4%]), followed by a smaller but statistically significant increase from 2008-2019 (APC=1.3% [95%CI: 0.9%, 1.7%], Figure 9A, Supplementary Table 6).

  • When analysis was limited to microscopically-confirmed cases, there was a slight significant decrease in incidence from 2008-2019 (APC= -0.7% [95% CI: -1.1%, -0.4%], Supplementary Table 7).

  • There was a significant increase in incidence of radiographically-diagnosed cases from 2004-2008 (APC=10.8% [95%CI: 7.3%, 14.5%]), and a smaller but still significant change from 2008-2019 (APC=2.6% [95%CI: 2.1%, 3.1%], Supplementary Table 7).

Non-Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors and Vestibular Schwanomma
  • There was a small but significant increase in the incidence of non-malignant nerve sheath tumors between 2004-2016 (APC=1.8% [95%CI: 1.2%, 2.3%]) followed by a significant decrease from 2016-2019 (APC=-5.7% [95%CI: -9.6%, -1.6%], Supplementary Table 6)

  • When analysis was limited to microscopically-confirmed cases only, there was no significant change in incidence from 2004-2010 (Supplementary Table 7).

  • There was a significant increase in incidence of radiographically-diagnosed tumors between 2004-2007 (APC=9.1% [95%CI: 4.4%, 14.0%]) and 2007-2015 (APC=3.2% [95%CI: 2.2%, 4.1%]), followed by a significant decrease from 2015-2019 (APC=-4.0% [95%CI: -6.1%, -1.8%], Supplementary Table 7).

Non-Malignant Tumors of the Pituitary
  • There was a significant increase in non-malignant tumors of the pituitary from 2004-2009 (APC=7.3% [95%CI: 5.6%, 9.1%]), and a smaller but significant increase from 2009-2016 (APC=2.3% [95%CI: 1.2%, 3.3%], Figure 9A, Supplementary Table 6).

  • When analysis was limited to microscopically-confirmed tumors only, there was a significant increase (APC=4.4% [95%CI: 3.0%, 5.7%]) from 2004-2009, followed by a significant decrease from 2009-2016 (APC=-0.9% [95%CI: -1.8%, 0.0%], Supplementary Table 7).

  • There was a significant increase in incidence of radiographically-diagnosed tumors of the pituitary from 2004-2009 (APC=11.4% [95%CI: 8.0%, 14.9%]), and from 2009-2016 (APC= 4.8% [95% CI: 3.0%,6.8%], Supplementary Table 7).

Distributions and Incidence by Site, Behavior, and Histopathology

Counts and rates from the 445,792 brain and other CNS tumors (28.3% malignant, 126,345 cases; 71.7% non-malignant, 319,447 cases shown in Figure 11) reported during 2015-2019 overall and by sex for all ages are shown by site in Table 4 and by histopathology in Table 5. Counts and rates are shown by histopathology and behavior for selected histopathologies where there is a statistically sufficient number of cases to calculate rates.

Fig. 11.

Fig. 11

Distributiona of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Behavior (Five-Year Total=445,792; Annual Average Cases=87,427), CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Table 4.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals of All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Sitec and Sex, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Site (ICD-O Topography Code) Total Male Female
5-Year Total Annual Average % of all tumors Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average % of all tumors Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average % of all tumors Rate (95% CI)
Olfactory tumors of the nasal cavity (C30.0)d 735 147 0.2% 0.04 (0.04-0.04) 419 84 0.2% 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 316 63 0.1% 0.03 (0.03-0.04)
Meninges (cerebral and spinal) (C70.0-C70.9) 179,112 35,822 40.2% 9.55 (9.50-9.59) 48,792 9,758 26.5% 5.69 (5.64-5.75) 130,320 26,064 49.8% 12.97 (12.90-13.04)
Cerebral meninges (C70.0) 147,043 29,409 33.0% 7.84 (7.80-7.88) 40,373 8,075 21.9% 4.71 (4.66-4.76) 106,670 21,334 40.8% 10.62 (10.56-10.69)
Spinal meninges (C70.1) 7,591 1,518 1.7% 0.40 (0.39-0.41) 1,662 332 0.9% 0.19 (0.18-0.20) 5,929 1,186 2.3% 0.58 (0.57-0.60)
Meninges, NOS (C70.9) 24,478 4,896 5.5% 1.31 (1.29-1.33) 6,757 1,351 3.7% 0.79 (0.77-0.81) 17,721 3,544 6.8% 1.77 (1.74-1.80)
Cerebrum (C71.0) 7,460 1,492 1.7% 0.43 (0.42-0.44) 3,978 796 2.2% 0.47 (0.46-0.49) 3,482 696 1.3% 0.39 (0.37-0.40)
Frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the brain (C71.1-C71.4) 76,878 15,376 17.2% 4.20 (4.17-4.23) 43,063 8,613 23.4% 4.96 (4.92-5.01) 33,815 6,763 12.9% 3.52 (3.49-3.56)
Frontal lobe (C71.1) 33,973 6,795 7.6% 1.88 (1.86-1.90) 18,138 3,628 9.8% 2.12 (2.09-2.15) 15,835 3,167 6.1% 1.67 (1.65-1.70)
Temporal lobe (C71.2) 24,837 4,967 5.6% 1.35 (1.33-1.36) 14,876 2,975 8.1% 1.70 (1.68-1.73) 9,961 1,992 3.8% 1.03 (1.01-1.06)
Parietal lobe (C71.3) 14,252 2,850 3.2% 0.76 (0.75-0.77) 7,945 1,589 4.3% 0.90 (0.88-0.92) 6,307 1,261 2.4% 0.64 (0.62-0.66)
Occipital lobe (C71.4) 3,816 763 0.9% 0.21 (0.20-0.21) 2,104 421 1.1% 0.24 (0.23-0.25) 1,712 342 0.7% 0.18 (0.17-0.18)
Ventricle (C71.5) 4,109 822 0.9% 0.25 (0.24-0.26) 2,279 456 1.2% 0.28 (0.27-0.29) 1,830 366 0.7% 0.22 (0.21-0.23)
Cerebellum (C71.6) 9,291 1,858 2.1% 0.58 (0.57-0.59) 5,028 1,006 2.7% 0.64 (0.62-0.65) 4,263 853 1.6% 0.52 (0.51-0.54)
Brain stem (C71.7) 6,113 1,223 1.4% 0.39 (0.38-0.40) 3,284 657 1.8% 0.42 (0.40-0.43) 2,829 566 1.1% 0.36 (0.35-0.38)
Other brain (C71.8-C71.9) 33,701 6,740 7.6% 1.84 (1.82-1.86) 18,023 3,605 9.8% 2.11 (2.08-2.15) 15,678 3,136 6.0% 1.61 (1.59-1.64)
Overlapping lesion of brain (C71.8) 12,794 2,559 2.9% 0.69 (0.68-0.70) 7,210 1,442 3.9% 0.83 (0.81-0.85) 5,584 1,117 2.1% 0.57 (0.55-0.58)
Brain, NOS (C71.9) 20,907 4,181 4.7% 1.16 (1.14-1.17) 10,813 2,163 5.9% 1.29 (1.26-1.31) 10,094 2,019 3.9% 1.04 (1.02-1.07)
Spinal cord and cauda equina (C72.0-C72.1) 12,700 2,540 2.8% 0.74 (0.73-0.76) 6,761 1,352 3.7% 0.81 (0.79-0.83) 5,939 1,188 2.3% 0.68 (0.66-0.70)
Spinal cord (C72.0) 12,303 2,461 2.8% 0.72 (0.71-0.73) 6,560 1,312 3.6% 0.79 (0.77-0.81) 5,743 1,149 2.2% 0.66 (0.64-0.68)
Cauda equina (C72.1) 397 79 0.1% 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 201 40 0.1% 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 196 39 0.1% 0.02 (0.02-0.03)
Cranial nerves (C72.2-C72.5) 30,488 6,098 6.8% 1.69 (1.67-1.71) 14,307 2,861 7.8% 1.65 (1.62-1.68) 16,181 3,236 6.2% 1.74 (1.71-1.76)
Olfactory nerve (C72.2) 42 8 0.0% 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 17 3 0.0% 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 25 5 0.0% 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Optic nerve (C72.3) 1,782 356 0.4% 0.12 (0.12-0.13) 859 172 0.5% 0.12 (0.11-0.12) 923 185 0.4% 0.13 (0.12-0.13)
Acoustic nerve (C72.4) 22,509 4,502 5.0% 1.22 (1.21-1.24) 10,581 2,116 5.7% 1.20 (1.18-1.23) 11,928 2,386 4.6% 1.25 (1.23-1.27)
Cranial nerve, NOS (C72.5) 6,155 1,231 1.4% 0.34 (0.34-0.35) 2,850 570 1.5% 0.33 (0.32-0.34) 3,305 661 1.3% 0.36 (0.35-0.37)
Other nervous system (C72.8-C72.9) 2,506 501 0.6% 0.14 (0.13-0.15) 1,266 253 0.7% 0.15 (0.14-0.16) 1,240 248 0.5% 0.13 (0.13-0.14)
Overlapping lesion of brain & CNS (C72.8) 348 70 0.1% 0.02 (0.02-0.02) 188 38 0.1% 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 160 32 0.1% 0.02 (0.01-0.02)
Nervous system, NOS (C72.9) 2,158 432 0.5% 0.12 (0.12-0.13) 1,078 216 0.6% 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 1,080 216 0.4% 0.12 (0.11-0.12)
Pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct (C75.1- C75.2) 81,005 16,201 18.2% 4.74 (4.71-4.78) 35,971 7,194 19.5% 4.23 (4.18-4.27) 45,034 9,007 17.2% 5.35 (5.30-5.40)
Pituitary gland (C75.1) 78,859 15,772 17.7% 4.62 (4.58-4.65) 34,845 6,969 18.9% 4.09 (4.05-4.13) 44,014 8,803 16.8% 5.23 (5.18-5.28)
Craniopharyngeal duct (C75.2) 2,146 429 0.5% 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 1,126 225 0.6% 0.14 (0.13-0.15) 1,020 204 0.4% 0.12 (0.11-0.13)
Pineal (C75.3) 1,694 339 0.4% 0.11 (0.10-0.11) 997 199 0.5% 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 697 139 0.3% 0.09 (0.08-0.09)
TOTAL 445,792 89,158 100.0% 24.71 (24.63-24.78) 184,168 36,834 100.0% 21.60 (21.50-21.70) 261,624 52,325 100.0% 27.62 (27.51-27.73)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cThe sites referred to in this table are loosely based on the categories and site codes defined in the SEER site/histopathology validation list.

dICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9522-9523 only.

- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; US, United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, Not otherwise specified.

Table 5.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Major Histopathology Groupings, Histopathology, Behavior, and Sex, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Total Male Female
5-Year Total Annual Average % of all tumors Median Age Rate (95% CI) 5-Year
Total
Annual Average % Malignantc Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average % Malignantc Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 84,012 16,802 18.8 63 4.50 (4.47-4.53) 48,292 9,658 100.0 5.48 (5.43-5.53) 35,720 7,144 100.0 3.64 (3.60-3.68)
Diffuse astrocytoma 7,634 1,527 1.7 45 0.46 (0.45-0.47) 4,270 854 99.9 0.52 (0.51-0.54) 3,364 673 99.9 0.39 (0.38-0.41)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 7,046 1,409 1.6 52 0.41 (0.40-0.42) 3,847 769 100.0 0.46 (0.45-0.48) 3,199 640 100.0 0.36 (0.35-0.37)
Glioblastoma 63,258 12,652 14.2 65 3.26 (3.24-3.29) 36,826 7,365 100.0 4.08 (4.04-4.12) 26,432 5,286 100.0 2.55 (2.52-2.59)
Oligodendroglioma 3,687 737 0.8 44 0.23 (0.22-0.24) 2,037 407 100.0 0.26 (0.25-0.27) 1,650 330 100.0 0.20 (0.19-0.22)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 1,871 374 0.4 49 0.11 (0.11-0.12) 1,038 208 99.8 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 833 167 100.0 0.10 (0.09-0.10)
Oligoastrocytic tumors 516 103 0.1 45 0.03 (0.03-0.03) 274 55 100.0 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 242 48 100.0 0.03 (0.03-0.03)
Other Astrocytic Tumors 6,252 1,250 1.4 12 0.42 (0.41-0.43) 3,293 659 93.3 0.44 (0.43-0.46) 2,959 592 94.5 0.41 (0.39-0.42)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 5,339 1,068 1.2 11 0.36 (0.35-0.37) 2,805 561 100.0 0.38 (0.36-0.39) 2,534 507 100.0 0.35 (0.34-0.36)
Unique astrocytoma variants 913 183 0.2 17 0.06 (0.06-0.06) 488 98 55.1 0.06 (0.06-0.07) 425 85 61.9 0.06 (0.05-0.06)
Non-Malignant 381 76 0.1 -- 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 219 44 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.03) 162 32 -- 0.02 (0.02-0.03)
Malignant 532 106 0.1 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 269 54 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 263 53 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.04)
Ependymal Tumors 6,911 1,382 1.6 45 0.42 (0.41-0.43) 3,964 793 53.6 0.49 (0.47-0.50) 2,947 589 60.6 0.35 (0.34-0.37)
Non-Malignant 3,002 600 0.7 -- 0.18 (0.17-0.19) 1,840 368 -- 0.22 (0.21-0.23) 1,162 232 -- 0.14 (0.13-0.14)
Malignant 3,909 782 0.9 -- 0.24 (0.23-0.25) 2,124 425 -- 0.26 (0.25-0.28) 1,785 357 -- 0.22 (0.21-0.23)
Other Gliomas 8,854 1,771 2.0 37 0.55 (0.53-0.56) 4,476 895 99.6 0.57 (0.55-0.59) 4,378 876 99.5 0.53 (0.51-0.55)
Glioma malignant, NOS 8,753 1,751 2.0 37 0.54 (0.53-0.55) 4,437 887 100.0 0.56 (0.55-0.58) 4,316 863 100.0 0.52 (0.51-0.54)
Other neuroepithelial tumors 101 20 0.0 32 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 39 8 48.7 0.00 (0.00-0.01) 62 12 66.1 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Non-Malignant 41 8 0.0 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 20 4 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 21 4 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Malignant 60 12 0.0 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 19 4 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 41 8 -- 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 5,339 1,068 1.2 26 0.34 (0.33-0.35) 2,911 582 18.2 0.37 (0.36-0.39) 2,428 486 17.8 0.31 (0.30-0.32)
Non-Malignant 4,379 876 -- -- 0.29 (0.28-0.29) 2,382 476 -- 0.31 (0.30-0.32) 1,997 399 -- 0.26 (0.25-0.27)
Malignant 960 192 -- -- 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 529 106 -- 0.06 (0.06-0.07) 431 86 -- 0.05 (0.04-0.05)
Choroid Plexus Tumors 827 165 0.2 20 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 415 83 17.6 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 412 82 11.7 0.05 (0.05-0.06)
Non-Malignant 706 141 -- -- 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 342 68 -- 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 364 73 -- 0.05 (0.04-0.05)
Malignant 121 24 -- -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 73 15 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 48 10 -- 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Tumors of the Pineal Region 769 154 0.2 34 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 322 64 69.6 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 447 89 53.2 0.06 (0.05-0.06)
Non-Malignant 307 61 0.1 -- 0.02 (0.02-0.02) 98 20 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 209 42 -- 0.03 (0.02-0.03)
Malignant 462 92 0.1 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.03) 224 45 -- 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 238 48 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.03)
Embryonal Tumors 3,170 634 0.7 8 0.22 (0.21-0.22) 1,909 382 100.0 0.26 (0.25-0.27) 1,261 252 99.8 0.18 (0.17-0.19)
Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves 37,048 7,410 8.3 58 2.05 (2.03-2.07) 17,785 3,557 0.6 2.05 (2.02-2.08) 19,263 3,853 0.5 2.06 (2.03-2.09)
Nerve sheath tumors 37,015 7,403 8.3 58 2.05 (2.03-2.07) 17,764 3,553 0.6 2.05 (2.02-2.08) 19,251 3,850 0.5 2.06 (2.03-2.09)
Non-Malignant 36,804 7,361 8.3 -- 2.04 (2.02-2.06) 17,658 3,532 -- 2.04 (2.01-2.07) 19,146 3,829 -- 2.05 (2.02-2.08)
Malignant 211 42 0.0 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 106 21 -- 0.01(0.01-0.02 105 21 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves 33 7 0.0 55 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 184,405 36,881 41.4 66 9.85 (9.81-9.90) 51,371 10,274 2.3 6.00 (5.95-6.05) 133,034 26,607 1.0 13.28 (13.21-13.36)
Meningiomas 178,447 35,689 40.0 67 9.51 (9.46-9.55) 48,335 9,667 1.5 5.64 (5.59-5.69) 130,112 26,022 0.7 12.95 (12.87-13.02)
Non-Malignant 176,832 35,366 39.7 -- 9.42 (9.38-9.47) 47,602 9,520 -- 5.55 (5.50-5.60) 129,230 25,846 -- 12.86 (12.79-12.93)
Malignant 1,615 323 0.4 -- 0.09 (0.08-0.09) 733 147 -- 0.08 (0.08-0.09) 882 176 -- 0.09 (0.08-0.09)
Mesenchymal tumors 5,815 1,163 1.3 51 0.34 (0.33-0.35) 2,953 591 13.6 0.35 (0.34-0.37) 2,862 572 12.7 0.33 (0.32-0.34)
Non-Malignant 5,049 1,010 1.1 -- 0.30 (0.29-0.30) 2,551 510 -- 0.30 (0.29-0.32) 2,498 500 -- 0.29 (0.28-0.30)
Malignant 766 153 0.2 -- 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 402 80 -- 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 364 73 -- 0.04 (0.04-0.05)
Primary melanocytic lesions 143 29 0.0 61 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 83 17 69.9 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 60 12 51.7 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Non-Malignant 54 11 0.0 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 25 5 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 29 6 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Malignant 89 18 0.0 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.01) 58 12 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 31 6 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 8,525 1,705 1.9 67 0.45 (0.44-0.46) 4,352 870 99.9 0.49 (0.48-0.51) 4,173 835 99.8 0.41 (0.39-0.42)
Lymphoma 8,482 1,696 1.9 67 0.45 (0.44-0.46) 4,328 866 99.9 0.49 (0.48-0.51) 4,154 831 99.8 0.41 (0.39-0.42)
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 43 9 0.0 59 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 24 5 95.8 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 19 4 94.7 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Germ Cell Tumors 1,280 256 0.3 15 0.09 (0.08-0.09) 942 188 89.4 0.12 (0.12-0.13) 338 68 79.3 0.05 (0.04-0.05)
Non-Malignant 170 34 0.0 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 100 20 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.02) 70 14 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Malignant 1,110 222 0.2 -- 0.07 (0.07-0.08) 842 168 -- 0.11 (0.10-0.12) 268 54 -- 0.04 (0.03-0.04)
Tumors of Sellar Region 79,996 15,999 17.9 51 4.69 (4.65-4.72) 35,594 7,119 0.2 4.18 (4.14-4.23) 44,402 8,880 0.1 5.28 (5.23-5.33)
Tumors of the pituitary 76,863 15,373 17.2 51 4.50 (4.47-4.53) 33,981 6,796 0.2 3.98 (3.94-4.03) 42,882 8,576 0.1 5.10 (5.05-5.15)
Non-Malignant 76,755 15,351 17.2 -- 4.49 (4.46-4.52) 33,913 6,783 -- 3.98 (3.93-4.02) 42,842 8,568 -- 5.09 (5.04-5.14)
Malignant 108 22 0.0 -- 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 68 14 -- 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 40 8 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.01)
Craniopharyngioma 3,133 627 0.7 45 0.19 (0.18-0.20) 1,613 323 0.4 0.20 (0.19-0.21) 1,520 304 0.1 0.18 (0.17-0.19)
Unclassified Tumors 18,404 3,681 4.1 65 1.03 (1.02-1.05) 8,542 1,708 38.5 1.05 (1.02-1.07) 9,862 1,972 35.1 1.02 (1.00-1.04)
Hemangioma 4,215 843 0.9 50 0.25 (0.24-0.26) 1,956 391 0.0 0.24 (0.23-0.25) 2,259 452 0.0 0.26 (0.25-0.27)
Neoplasm, unspecified 13,647 2,729 3.1 70 0.75 (0.73-0.76) 6,292 1,258 51.8 0.77 (0.75-0.79) 7,355 1,471 46.7 0.73 (0.71-0.75)
Non-Malignant 6,954 1,391 1.6 -- 0.39 (0.38-0.40) 3,032 606 -- 0.37 (0.36-0.39) 3,922 784 -- 0.41 (0.40-0.42)
Malignant 6,693 1,339 1.5 -- 0.36 (0.35-0.36) 3,260 652 -- 0.40 (0.38-0.41) 3,433 687 -- 0.32 (0.31-0.33)
All other 542 108 0.1 37.5 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 294 59 9.2 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 248 50 12.9 0.03 (0.03-0.03)
Non-Malignant 483 97 0.1 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 267 53 -- 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 216 43 -- 0.03 (0.02-0.03)
Malignant 59 12 0.0 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.01) 27 5 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.01) 32 6 -- 0.00 (0.00-0.01)
TOTAL d 445,792 89,158 100.0 61 24.71 (24.63-24.78) 184,168 36,834 38.3 21.60 (21.50-21.70) 261,624 52,325 21.4 27.62 (27.51-27.73)
Non-Malignant 319,447 63,889 71.7 -- 17.69 (17.62-17.75) 113,709 22,742 -- 13.36 (13.28-13.44) 205,738 41,148 -- 21.68 (21.58-21.78)
Malignant 126,345 25,269 28.3 -- 7.02 (6.98-7.06) 70,459 14,092 -- 8.24 (8.18-8.30) 55,886 11,177 -- 5.94 (5.89-5.99)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cAssigned behavior code of /3 (see Table 2).

dRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

Distribution of Tumors by Site and Histopathology

The distribution of brain and other CNS tumors by site is shown in Figure 12A and Table 4.

Fig. 12.

Fig. 12

Distributiona of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors (Malignant and Non-Malignant Combined; Five-Year Total=445,792; Annual Average Cases=89,158) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • Overall, the most common tumor site was the meninges, representing 40.2% of all tumors.

  • Frontal (7.6%), temporal (5.6%), parietal (3.2%), and occipital lobes (0.9%) accounted for 17.2% of all tumors.

  • The cranial nerves (6.8%) and the spinal cord/cauda equina (2.8%) accounted for 9.7% of all tumors.

  • The pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct accounted for 18.2% of all tumors.

The distribution by brain and other CNS histopathologies is shown in Figure 12B and Table 5.

  • The most frequently reported histopathologies overall were meningiomas (40.0%), followed by tumors of the pituitary (17.2%) and glioblastoma (14.2%).

  • Tumors of the pituitary (17.2%) and nerve sheath tumors (8.3%) combined accounted for slightly more than one-fourth of all tumors (25.5%), the vast majority of which were non-malignant.

Distribution of Tumors by Site, Histopathology and Behavior

The distribution of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors by site are shown in Figure 5A and Figure 10A, respectively.

  • For malignant tumors, frontal (24.6%), temporal (17.6%), parietal (10.4%), and occipital (2.6%) accounted for 55.2% of tumors (Figure 5A).

  • For non-malignant tumors, 55.4% of all tumors occurred in the meninges (Figure 10A).

The distribution of malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors by histopathology are shown in Figure 5B and Figure 10B, respectively, as well as in Table 5.

  • The most common of all malignant CNS tumor histopathologies was glioblastoma (50.1%, Figure 5B).

  • The most common of all non-malignant tumor histopathologies was meningioma (55.4%, Figure 10B).

  • The most common non-malignant nerve sheath tumor (based on multiple sites in the brain and CNS) was vestibular schwannoma (defined by histopathology code 9560, also formerly called acoustic neuromas) (75.7%, Table 6).

Table 6.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for Selected Non-Malignant Histopathologies by Sex, Age Group at Diagnosis, Race, Hispanic Ethnicity, and Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Group Vestibular Schwannomac Pituitary Adenomad WHO Grade I Meningiomae WHO Grade II Meningiomaf
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Sex
Male 13,078 2,616 1.49 (1.47-1.52) 29,868 5,974 3.49 (3.45-3.53) 16,042 3,208 1.84 (1.81-1.87) 4,050 810 0.46 (0.45-0.48)
Female 14,795 2,959 1.56 (1.53-1.58) 37,282 7,456 4.41 (4.36-4.45) 43,389 8,678 4.47 (4.43-4.51) 5,653 1,131 0.60 (0.58-0.61)
Age Groups
0-14 years 213 43 0.07 (0.06-0.08) 937 187 0.31 (0.29-0.33) 108 22 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 78 16 0.03 (0.02-0.03)
15-39 years 3,687 737 0.70 (0.68-0.72) 19,150 3,830 3.56 (3.51-3.61) 4,552 910 0.89 (0.87-0.92) 1,063 213 0.20 (0.19-0.22)
40-64 years 14,399 2,880 2.59 (2.54-2.63) 28,324 5,665 5.40 (5.34-5.47) 27,964 5,593 5.03 (4.97-5.09) 4,578 916 0.83 (0.80-0.85)
65+ years 9,574 1,915 3.74 (3.66-3.82) 18,739 3,748 7.45 (7.34-7.56) 26,807 5,361 10.73 (10.60-10.86) 3,984 797 1.59 (1.54-1.64)
Race
White 23,866 4,773 1.62 (1.59-1.64) 47,724 9,545 3.51 (3.48-3.55) 47,661 9,532 3.15 (3.12-3.18) 7,354 1,471 0.49 (0.48-0.51)
Black 1,546 309 0.70 (0.67-0.74) 13,520 2,704 6.24 (6.13-6.35) 7,662 1,532 3.61 (3.53-3.69) 1,547 309 0.71 (0.68-0.75)
American Indian/Alaska Native 161 32 0.76 (0.64-0.89) 614 123 2.90 (2.66-3.15) 409 82 2.13 (1.92-2.35) 57 11 0.30 (0.22-0.39)
Asian or Pacific Islander 1,347 269 1.25 (1.18-1.32) 2,883 577 2.71 (2.61-2.81) 2,325 465 2.23 (2.13-2.32) 507 101 0.49 (0.44-0.53)
Hispanic Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 25,447 5,089 1.61 (1.59-1.63) 55,782 11,156 3.82 (3.78-3.85) 53,374 10,675 3.28 (3.25-3.31) 8,731 1,746 0.55 (0.54-0.56)
Hispanic 2,426 485 1.03 (0.99-1.07) 11,368 2,274 4.51 (4.42-4.59) 6,057 1,211 2.77 (2.69-2.84) 972 194 0.43 (0.41-0.46)
TOTAL 27,873 5,575 1.52 (1.50-1.54) 67,150 13,430 3.91 (3.88-3.94) 59,431 11,886 3.21 (3.18-3.24) 9,703 1,941 0.53 (0.52-0.54)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cICD-O-3 histopathology code 9560/0 and ICD-O-3 topography code C72.4 and C72.5.

dICD-O-3 histopathology code 8272/0 and ICD-O-3 topography code C75.1.

eICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9530/0, 9531/0, 9532/0, 9533/0, 9534/0, and 9537/0. WHO grade may be reported according to 2007 or 2016 WHO classification depending on year of diagnosis, in which roman numerals are used to denote tumor grade.

fICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9530/1, 9531/1, 9532/1, 9533/1, 9534/1, 9537/1, 9538/1, and 9539/1. WHO grade may be reported according to 2007 or 2016 WHO classification depending on year of diagnosis, in which roman numerals are used to denote tumor grade.

- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; US, United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; WHO, World Health Organization; CI, confidence interval.

Distribution of Gliomas by Site and Histopathology

The broad category glioma (ICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9380–9384, 9391–9460 see Table 2 for more information) represented approximately 24% of all primary brain and other CNS tumors and 80.9% of malignant tumors. The distribution of gliomas by site and histopathology are shown in Figure 7A and Figure 7B, respectively.

  • The majority of gliomas occurred in the supra-tentorium (frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes combined) (61.8%). Only a very small proportion of gliomas occurred in areas of the CNS other than the brain.

  • Glioblastoma accounted for the majority of gliomas (59.2%).

  • Astrocytic tumors, including glioblastoma, accounted for 78% of all gliomas.

Incidence by Year and Behavior

Figure 13 presents the overall AAAIRs of all primary brain and other CNS tumors by year (2015-2019) and behavior. Incidence rates for all primary brain and other CNS tumors, 2015-2019, did not differ substantially by year (both overall and by behavior).

Fig. 13.

Fig. 13

Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Year and Behavior, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Incidence Rates by Major Histopathology Grouping, Specific Histopathology, and Behavior

AAAIRs overall by major histopathology grouping, specific histopathology, and behavior are shown in Table 5. Among CBTRUS major histopathology groupings, incidence rates were highest for tumors of the meninges (9.85 per 100,000 population), followed by tumors of the sellar region (4.69 per 100,000 population), diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors (4.50 per 100,000 population), and tumors of the cranial and spinal nerves (2.05 per 100,000 population).

  • Among CBTRUS specific histopathology groupings, incidence rates were highest for meningiomas (9.51 per 100,000 population), tumors of the pituitary (4.5 per 100,000 population), glioblastoma (3.26 per 100,000 population), and nerve sheath tumors (2.05 per 100,000 population).

  • The majority of nerve sheath tumors were vestibular schwannoma (1.52 per 100,000, Table 6).

  • Of all vestibular schwannoma tumors, 62.5% were located in the acoustic nerve (Supplementary Figure 1).

  • For malignant tumors, the incidence rate was highest for glioblastoma (3.26 per 100,000 population), followed by glioma malignant, NOS (0.54 per 100,000), diffuse astrocytomas (0.46 per 100,000 population) and lymphomas (0.45 per 100,000 population).

  • For non-malignant tumors, the incidence rate was highest for non-malignant meningiomas (9.42 per 100,000 population), followed by non-malignant tumors of the pituitary (4.49 per 100,000 population).

Brain Molecular Marker Variable and Other Biomarkers

Biomarkers for Glioma
IDH mutation and 1/19q status

Gliomas, as the most common malignant primary brain and other CNS tumor type, have been subject to the greatest investigation. A recent review has described in detail the current state of glioma biomarker research.61 One of the earliest discoveries in glioma biomarkers was that oligodendroglioma often had large deletions (missing parts of the chromosome, also known as loss of heterozygosity) in the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p) and the long arm of chromosome 19 (19q).62 In general, these deletions significantly predict positive response to chemotherapy and radiation treatment in oligodendroglioma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma.63-65 Mutations to the genes in IDH1 and in IDH2 have also been shown to be associated with improved prognosis in glioma.66-68 These mutations are common in lower grade gliomas (WHO grade II and WHO grade III), but are rare in glioblastoma.67 The combination of these two factors can be used to more accurately stratify glioma by prognosis than the previously utilized histopathological criteria,68,69 and have been incorporated into the definition of oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma in the 2016 update to the WHO classification.2

MGMT Methylation

Another alteration that is associated with improved survival in glioma is increased methylation (where methyl molecules are bonded to the DNA) of the promotor region of MGMT.70,71 MGMT is a DNA repair protein, and methylation of its promoter region effectively silences the gene and prevents transcription into RNA. It is assumed that the decreases in protein levels increase sensitivity to the alkylating chemotherapies (e.g. temozolomide) often used in the treatment of gliomas aimed to combat tumor growth through DNA damage.72 This alteration is common in glioblastoma and less common in lower grade glioma.

Other Biomarkers

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a name given to a group of aggressive tumors occuring in the pons that occurs primarily in children. In the 2016 WHO classification, these tumors are classified as diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant (ICD-O-3 histopathology code 9385/3). These account for ~75% of brain stem tumors in children. Survival is very poor after diagnoses with these tumors. Due to the location of these tumors, they are often not biopsied and, therefore, have not been molecularly characterized to the extent of many other primary brain and other CNS tumor types. Recently, biopsy and autopsy protocols have allowed for collection of primary tumor samples that have been used for genomic profiling.73-75 These tumors have been found to be highly heterogeneous. Mutations in histone H3, Activin A receptor, type I (ACVR1), tumor protein p53 (TP53), platelet-derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and Myc (MYC) have been identified as characteristic of these tumors.74,76,77 A recent review has further summarized current developments in the genomics of DIPG.78

Biomarkers for Embryonal Tumors
Medulloblastoma Subtypes

Medulloblastoma is another tumor type that has been subject to significant molecular analysis. Using an analysis of gene expression (based on quantity of RNA transcribed from a gene), medulloblastoma was able to be subdivided into four distinct subtypes: wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), group 3 (also called group C), and group 4 (also called group D).79 These groups are associated with specific age groups, with SHH being most common in infants and adults, and all other groups being more common in childhood. Several review articles have elaborated on the details of these subgroups and their implications for diagnosis and treatment.80-82

Completeness of Molecular Markers

The BMM variable and molecularly-defined ICD-O-3 codes are specific to certain histopathologies (please see Supplementary Tables 2 and 3). Frequency of reported molecular markers for relevant histopathologies are shown in Table 7. Completeness of molecular marker reporting using BMM variable is shown in Figure 3.

Table 7.

Distribution of Brain Molecular Markers for Select Histopathologically-Confirmed Glioma and Embryonal Tumor Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2018-2019

Histopathology Frequency (%)
Diffuse Astrocytoma
9400/3: Diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-mutant a 1,103 (42.7%)
9400/3: Diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype a 883 (34.2%)
9400/3: Diffuse astrocytoma, IDH Status Unknown 599 (23.2%)
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
9401/3: Anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-mutant a 1,159 (43.6%)
9401/3: Anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype a 1,167 (43.9%)
9401/3: Anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH Status Unknown 331 (12.5%)
Glioblastoma
9440/3: Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype a 18,579 (76.8%)
9440/3: Glioblastoma, IDH Status Unknown 4,398 (18.2%)
9441/3: Giant cell glioblastoma 155 (0.6%)
9442/3: Gliosarcoma 475 (2%)
9445/3: Glioblastoma, IDH-mutant b 580 (2.4%)
Oligodendroglioma
9450/3: Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1 p/19q co-deleted a 1,227 (90.8%)
9450/3: Oligodendroglioma, NOS 124 (9.2%)
Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma
9451/3: Anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1 p/19q co-deleted a 653 (93.3%)
9451/3: Oligodendroglioma, anaplastic 47 (6.7%)
Medulloblastoma
9470/3: Medulloblastoma, NOS 404 (48.5%)
9471/3: Desmoplastic nodular medulloblastoma 30 (3.6%)
9471/3: Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-wildtype a 161 (19.3%)
9472/3: Medullomyoblastoma --
9474/3: Large cell medulloblastoma 59 (7.1%)
9475/3: Medulloblastoma, WNT-activated, NOS b 29 (3.5%)
9476/3: Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-mutant b --
9477/3: Medulloblastoma, non-WNT/non-SHH b 134 (16.1%)

aCollected in NAACCR Item #3816, Brain Molecular Markers.

bNew ICD-O-3 codes implemented in 2018.

-- Cases and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; US, United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; NOS, not otherwise specified.

  • Among glioblastoma patients, 580 were coded as 9445/3, Glioblastoma IDH-mutant (2.4%), 18,579 were coded as 9440/3, Glioblastoma IDH-wildtype (76.8%), and 4,398 as 9440/3, Glioblastoma IDH Status Unknown (18.2%). Among those with unknown IDH status, 74 had a test ordered, but no results reported in patient chart (1.6%), while the remaining patients did not have IDH status documented in their patient record, or the information was miscoded/unknown (4,320, 98.2%).

  • Frequency of IDH-mutation reporting was high in diffuse astrocytoma (9400/3, 76.8%) and anaplastic astrocytoma (9401/3, 87.5%). Biomarker reporting was complete in 90.8% of oligodendroglioma coded as 9450/3 and 93.3% of anaplastic oligodendroglioma coded as 9451/3.

  • For medulloblastoma coded as 9471/3, 84.3% had complete biomarker reporting.

  • Completeness of biomarker reporting improved for all relevant ICD-O-3 codes from 2018 to 2019.

Frequency and Incidence of Molecularly-Defined Brain and Other CNS Tumor Histopathologies

Beginning in diagnosis year 2018, US cancer registry systems began collecting data on molecularly defined histologies introduced in the 2016 WHO classification of tumours of the CNS, including IDH-mutation and 1p/19q codeletion status for adult-type diffuse glioma, and medulloblastoma subtypes. Total cases of these histopathologies diagnosed in 2018-2019, age-adjusted incidence rates, median age of diagnosis, and distribution by sex and race/ethnicity are shown in Table 8.

Table 8.

Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa, Median Age at Diagnosis, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity of Histopathologically-Confirmed Molecularly-Defined Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by WHO Gradeb for Diagnosis Years 2018-2019, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2018-2019

Tumor type ICD-O-3 
Histopathology Codes WHO Grade Total cases (2018-2019)c Rate (95% CI) Age (median, 
interquartile range) Female (%) Non-Hispanic White (%) Non-Hispanic Black (%) Hispanic (%)
Adult-type diffuse glioma
IDH-mutant Astrocytoma
(BMM 1, 3)
9400/3, 9401/3, 9445/3 All grades 2,842 0.44 (0.43-0.46) 36 (29-49) 42.8 80.0 6.5 11.0
IId 845 0.14 (0.13-0.15) 34 (28-44) 41.4 79.3 6.3 10.8
III 947 0.15 (0.14-0.16) 37 (29-48) 42.9 80.9 5.9 11.2
IV 565 0.09 (0.08-0.09) 39.5 (31-59) 42.3 80.1 7.7 9.7
IDH-wildtype Astrocytoma and Glioblastomad,e
(BMM 2, 4, 5)
9400/3, 9401/3, 9440/3 All grades 20,625 2.61 (2.57-2.64) 65 (56-72) 41.1 82.6 6.3 8.6
II 394 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 54 (34.5-65) 46.4 77.6 9.0 9.8
III 762 0.10 (0.10-0.11) 59 (46-70) 46.1 81.8 7.4 8.2
IV 14,773 1.85 (1.82-1.88) 65 (56-72) 40.2 82.8 6.2 8.6
IDH-mutant & 1p/19q-codeleted Oligodendroglioma
(BMM 6,7)
All grades 1,880 0.29 (0.28-0.31) 45 (35-56) 44.9 76.9 4.9 13.9
9450/3, 9451/3 II 940 0.15 (0.14-0.16) 42 (33-53) 45.3 75.9 5.1 14.8
III 640 0.10 (0.09-0.10) 48 (37-58) 43.8 77.9 4.8 13.2
Medulloblastoma f
SHH-activated & TP53-wildtype (BMM 8) 9471/3 All grades 161 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 20 (5-30) 36.0 57.5 12.4 24.2
SHH-activated & TP53-mutant 9476/3 All grades < 16 cases -- -- -- -- -- --
WNT-activated 9475/3 All grades 29 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 10 (7-12) -- 72.4 -- --
Non-WNT/non-SHH 9477/3 All grades 134 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 8 (4-12) 33.6 63.8 4.6 28.5
Other tumor types
Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant 9385/3 All grades 331 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 14 (7-31.5) 54.7 56.9 12.5 24.4
ETMR C19MC-altered (BMM 9) 9478/3 All grades 27 0.00 (0.00-0.01) 2 (1.5-3.5) -- -- -- --
RELA-fusion ependymoma 9396/3 All grades 18 0.00 (0.00-0.00) 13 (4.25-17.25) -- -- -- --

aRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

bWHO grade is reported according to 2016 WHO classification, in which Roman numerals are used to denote tumor grade.

cExcludes cases with missing molecular classification data or that are not histopathologically-confirmed.

dAdult-type diffuse glioma cases reported as WHO grade I or “low-grade, NOS” were grouped with WHO grade II.

eIn WHO-CNS5, grading is denoted using Arabic numerals rather than roman numerals. In this 2021 revision, all IDH-wildtype adult-type diffuse astrocytic gliomas are classified as glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, WHO CNS grade 4, without separate grades 2 or 3.

fBoth histopathologically-defined and new molecularly-defined ICD-O-3 codes for medulloblastomas were reported in the registry data; however, only a single ICD-O-3 diagnosis can be reported per case. As a result, the national incidence rates could not be estimated for the SHH-activated and TP53 mutant subtype.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified

  • The IDH-mutant astrocytoma subtype had incidence rate of 0.44 per 100,000 population, while IDH-wildtype astrocytoma subtype had an incidence rate of 2.61 per 100,000 population. Median age of diagnosis for these subtypes was 36 and 65 years, respectively.

  • When stratified by WHO grade, 61.5% of WHO grade II astrocytoma were IDH-mutant, while 49.4% and 3.1% of WHO grade III and IV astrocytoma were IDH-mutant (Figure 14).

  • The most common medulloblastoma subtype was SHH-activated & TP53-wildtype, which had an incidence rate of 0.03 per 100,000 population and a median age of diagnosis of 20 years.

  • Non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma was the second most commonly occurring subtype, with an incidence rate of 0.02 per 100,000 and a median age of diagnosis of 8 years.

  • Incidence of the WNT-activated medulloblastoma subtype was 0.01 per 100,000 population, with a median age of diagnosis of 10 years. SHH-activated and TP53-mutant medulloblastoma subtypes were too rare to calculate incidence.

  • Molecular subtype data were missing for many medulloblastoma cases, but the completeness of these data is expected to increase in future years.

  • Embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes, C19MC-altered had incidence rates of <0.01 per 100,000 population and a median age of diagnosis of 2 years.

  • Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant had an incidence rate of 0.06 per 100,000 population and a median age of diagnosis of 14 years.

Fig. 14.

Fig. 14

Frequency of IDH Mutationa by WHO Grade for Selected Astrocytoma Histopathologiesb, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2018-2019

Distribution of Spinal Cord Tumors by Age

Although spinal cord tumors account for a relatively small percentage of brain and other CNS tumors, they result in significant morbidity. The most common histopathologies found in the spinal cord, spinal meninges, and cauda equina are presented in Figure 15 for both children (age 0-19 years, Figure 15A) and adults (ages 20+ years, Figure 15B).

Fig. 15.

Fig. 15

Distributiona of Primary Spinal Cord, Spinal Meninges, and Cauda Equina Tumors by Histopathology in A) Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years, Five-Year Total=1,451; Annual Average Cases=290) and B) Adults (Ages 20+ Years, Five-Year Total=19,103; Annual Average Cases=3,821), CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • The predominant histopathology group for those ages 0-19 years was ependymal tumors (17.6%) followed by nerve sheath tumors (17.3%).

  • Meningiomas (37.5%) accounted for the largest proportion of spinal cord tumors among those ages 20 years and older.

Descriptive Summary of Meningiomas

  • Meningiomas were the most frequently reported brain and other CNS histopathology, accounting for 40% of tumors overall (Figure 12, Table 5).

  • Most meningiomas (82.0%) were located in the cerebral meninges, 4.2% were located in the spinal meninges, and approximately 13.7% did not have a specific meningeal site listed (Table 4).

  • Non-malignant meningiomas with ICD-O-3 behavior codes /0 (benign) or /1 (uncertain) accounted for 99.0% of reported meningiomas.

  • Of meningiomas with documented WHO grade (82.2%), 80.1% were WHO grade I, 18.3% were WHO grade II, and 1.5% were WHO grade III (Table 9).

  • Meningiomas were most common in adults ages 65 years and older, and one of the least common in children ages 0-14 years (Table 10, Supplementary Table 8).

  • Incidence of meningiomas increased with age, with a dramatic increase after age 65 years. Even among the population ages 85 years and older, these rates continued to be high (Supplementary Table 8).

  • Non-malignant meningiomas overall were 2.3 times more common in females compared to males. Incidence rate ratios were lowest between males and females in persons <20 years old (where incidence rates for males and females were approximately equal), and highest from 35-44 (Figure 16, Supplementary Figure 5).

  • Incidence of meningiomas was significantly higher in people who are Black compared to their White counterparts (Figure 17).

  • Ten-year relative survival for malignant meningiomas was 60%. Age had a large effect on survival after diagnosis with malignant meningioma: 10-year relative survival was 78% for the population ages 20-44 years, and 38.5% for ages 75+ years (Table 10, Supplementary Table 13).

  • Ten-year relative survival for non-malignant meningiomas was 83.4%. Age had a large effect on survival after diagnosis with non-malignant meningioma: 10-year relative survival was 93.2% in children 0–14, 95% in AYA 15-39, and 82.5% in adults 40+ years old (Table 11).

  • Site of meningioma affected survival after diagnosis with meningioma. For non-malignant meningiomas, 10-year relative survival was 83.2% for tumors in the cerebral meninges, but 94.8% for tumors in the spinal meninges (Supplementary Figure 6, Supplementary Table 12).

  • Survival was also higher in malignant meningiomas for spinal tumors, where 10-year relative survival was 71.1%, as compared to 59.9% for tumors in the cerebral meninges (Supplementary Figure 6, Supplementary Table 12).

Table 9.

Distribution of Histopathologically-Confirmed Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by WHO Grade Completeness, Treatment Information Completeness, and Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Number of Newly Diagnosed Tumors Histopathologically-Confirmed (%)a WHO Grade Completeness (%)b Assigned WHO Gradec Radiation Information Completenessd (%) Surgical Extent of Resection Information Completenesse(%)
Complete Incomplete Not Applicable WHO Grade I WHO Grade II WHO Grade III WHO Grade IV
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 84,012 94.3% 90.9% 9.1% 0.1% 0.5% 10.8% 12.9% 75.8% 59.0% 99.6%
Diffuse astrocytoma 7,634 92.5% 84.3% 15.6% 0.1% 2.8% 71.9% 15.6% 9.8% 44.7% 99.4%
Anaplastic astrocytoma 7,046 99.3% 94.1% 5.9% 0.1% 0.2% 2.2% 89.6% 8.0% 69.1% 99.6%
Glioblastoma 63,258 93.6% 91.1% 8.8% 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% 0.7% 98.9% 60.6% 99.7%
Oligodendroglioma 3,687 96.9% 92.4% 7.6% 0.0% 1.4% 89.2% 7.7% 1.7% 38.2% 99.5%
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 1,871 99.1% 93.6% 6.4% 0.1% 0.0% 4.3% 89.9% 5.8% 64.6% 99.6%
Oligoastrocytic tumors 516 97.3% 91.2% 8.8% 0.0% 1.5% 43.0% 46.3% 9.2% 61.8% 99.8%
Other Astrocytic Tumors 6,252 86.4% 86.9% 12.8% 0.4% 86.4% 9.7% 3.3% 0.7% 6.5% 99.7%
Pilocytic astrocytoma 5,339 87.9% 87.2% 12.4% 0.4% 95.3% 3.7% 0.6% 0.4% 4.9% 99.8%
Unique astrocytoma variants 913 77.5% 84.5% 15.4% 0.1% 25.8% 50.5% 21.2% 2.5% 15.8% 99.4%
Malignant 532 97.9% 87.7% 12.1% 0.2% 3.1% 66.0% 27.7% 3.3% 24.4% 99.4%
Non-Malignant 381 49.1% 75.4% 24.6% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 99.5%
Ependymal Tumors 6,911 86.2% 88.0% 12.0% 0.1% 36.8% 48.0% 14.3% 0.9% 23.0% 99.7%
Malignant 3,909 93.4% 89.5% 10.4% 0.1% 2.6% 73.4% 22.7% 1.3% 34.2% 99.9%
Non-Malignant 3,002 76.9% 85.5% 14.4% 0.0% 93.6% 5.9% 0.2% 0.3% 7.8% 99.5%
Other Gliomas 8,854 41.7% 51.9% 47.1% 1.0% 10.3% 22.8% 19.5% 47.3% 26.4% 99.3%
Glioma malignant, NOS 8,753 41.1% 51.7% 47.3% 1.0% 10.3% 21.7% 19.6% 48.4% 26.3% 99.3%
Other neuroepithelial tumors 101 92.1% 58.1% 41.9% 0.0% 10.9% 61.8% 18.2% 9.1% 33.8% 98.9%
Malignant 60 98.3% 44.1% 55.9% 0.0% 14.8% 29.6% 37.0% 18.5% 43.5% 98.3%
Non-Malignant 41 82.9% 82.4% 17.6% 0.0% 7.1% 92.9% 0.0% 0.0% 17.9% 100.0%
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 5,339 91.7% 65.7% 19.5% 14.8% 82.8% 13.5% 2.8% 0.9% 12.9% 99.6%
Malignant 960 98.3% 26.9% 5.6% 67.6% 28.7% 7.0% 51.0% 13.4% 53.5% 99.3%
Non-Malignant 4,379 90.3% 76.3% 23.3% 0.4% 85.7% 13.9% 0.3% 0.2% 3.9% 99.7%
Choroid Plexus Tumors 827 87.4% 76.8% 23.1% 0.1% 64.8% 20.9% 13.6% 0.7% 3.9% 99.4%
Malignant 121 96.7% 76.9% 22.2% 0.9% 7.7% 4.4% 83.5% 4.4% 11.2% 100.0%
Non-Malignant 706 85.8% 76.7% 23.3% 0.0% 75.9% 24.1% 0.0% 0.0% 2.7% 99.3%
Tumors of the Pineal Region 769 79.2% 42.1% 0.0% 57.9% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 39.1% 99.5%
Malignant 462 97.8% 42.9% 0.0% 57.1% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 59.4% 99.3%
Non-Malignant 307 51.1% 39.6% 0.0% 60.4% --% --% --% --% 7.6% 100.0%
Embryonal Tumors 3,170 98.4% 82.5% 16.8% 0.6% 0.5% 0.3% 1.1% 98.1% 58.4% 99.9%
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 37,048 48.1% 43.8% 56.2% 0.0% 99.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.2% 14.2% 99.4%
Nerve sheath tumors 37,015 48.1% 43.8% 56.2% 0.0% 99.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.2% 14.2% 99.4%
Malignant 211 83.9% 22.6% 77.4% 0.0% 57.5% 12.5% 20.0% 10.0% 32.2% 98.3%
Non-Malignant 36,804 47.9% 44.0% 56.0% 0.0% 99.6% 0.3% 0.0% 0.1% 14.1% 99.4%
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves 33 42.4% 28.6% 71.4% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Tumors of Meninges 184,405 37.4% 80.5% 19.5% 0.1% 79.9% 18.0% 2.0% 0.1% 6.1% 99.6%
Meningiomas 178,447 36.2% 82.2% 17.8% 0.0% 80.1% 18.3% 1.5% 0.1% 5.9% 99.5%
Malignant 1,615 78.1% 88.1% 11.9% 0.0% 20.4% 15.0% 63.6% 1.0% 34.4% 98.5%
Non-Malignant 176,832 35.8% 82.1% 17.9% 0.0% 81.4% 18.4% 0.2% 0.1% 5.6% 99.6%
Mesenchymal tumors 5,815 75.4% 57.1% 42.0% 0.8% 77.1% 10.4% 11.8% 0.7% 11.9% 99.6%
Malignant 766 96.3% 42.8% 53.2% 4.1% 11.3% 14.4% 70.2% 4.1% 47.5% 99.5%
Non-Malignant 5,049 72.3% 60.1% 39.7% 0.2% 86.6% 9.8% 3.3% 0.2% 6.3% 99.6%
Primary melanocytic lesions 143 88.1% 11.9% 83.3% 4.8% 60.0% 13.3% 6.7% 20.0% 35.0% 99.2%
Malignant 89 94.4% 8.3% 84.5% 7.1% 42.9% 0.0% 14.3% 42.9% 44.8% 98.8%
Non-Malignant 54 77.8% 19.0% 81.0% 0.0% 75.0% 25.0% 0.0% 0.0% 21.4% 100.0%
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 8,525 94.9% 1.9% 97.3% 0.8% 84.3% 1.3% 4.6% 9.8% 16.5% 99.0%
Lymphoma 8,482 94.9% 1.9% 97.5% 0.6% 84.2% 1.3% 4.6% 9.9% 16.3% 99.1%
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 43 97.7% 2.4% 64.3% 33.3% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 64.7% 95.2%
Germ Cell Tumors 1,280 86.6% 8.8% 43.4% 47.8% 18.8% 7.8% 7.8% 65.6% 53.5% 99.0%
Malignant 1,110 88.6% 8.7% 40.6% 50.6% 1.9% 9.4% 9.4% 79.2% 60.4% 99.2%
Non-Malignant 170 74.1% 9.4% 65.4% 25.2% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 7.7% 97.6%
Tumors of Sellar Region 79,996 43.9% 14.2% 0.4% 85.5% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.5% 99.5%
Tumors of the pituitary 76,863 42.3% 11.8% 0.0% 88.2% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.8% 99.5%
Malignant 108 63.9% 8.0% 0.0% 92.0% -- -- -- -- 17.7% 97.1%
Non-Malignant 76,755 42.3% 11.8% 0.0% 88.2% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.8% 99.5%
Craniopharyngioma 3,133 83.1% 37.0% 4.0% 59.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 20.1% 99.6%
Unclassified Tumors 18,404 16.8% 8.5% 83.4% 8.1% 80.1% 5.7% 3.7% 10.6% 3.3% 95.6%
Hemangioma 4,215 28.3% 8.7% 91.0% 0.3% 97.1% 2.9% 0.0% 0.0% 1.4% 98.7%
Neoplasm, unspecified 13,647 11.9% 8.1% 77.1% 14.8% 68.1% 7.8% 7.8% 16.4% 4.1% 92.7%
Malignant 6,693 8.5% 7.2% 87.3% 5.6% 27.0% 10.8% 18.9% 43.2% 6.6% 89.4%
Non-Malignant 6,954 15.1% 8.6% 71.6% 19.7% 87.3% 6.3% 2.5% 3.8% 2.7% 94.5%
All other 542 50.2% 9.9% 87.5% 2.6% 65.4% 7.7% 0.0% 26.9% 3.3% 99.3%
Malignant 59 94.9% 31.6% 63.2% 5.3% 47.1% 11.8% 0.0% 41.2% 25.0% 100.0%
Non-Malignant 483 44.7% 4.2% 94.0% 1.9% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 99.1%
TOTAL 445,792 53.4% 65.7% 19.1% 15.2% 40.4% 14.1% 7.7% 37.7% 17.9% 99.5%
Malignant 126,345 85.8% 79.7% 18.5% 1.9% 5.8% 13.1% 13.6% 67.5% 48.5% 99.5%
Non-Malignant 319,447 40.5% 54.4% 19.6% 26.0% 84.2% 15.4% 0.3% 0.1% 5.7% 99.5%

aHistopathologic confirmation includes tumors classified as diagnosis confirmed by positive histopathology, positive cytology, positive histopathology plus – positive immunophenotyping and/or positive genetic studies, or positive microscopic confirmation, method not specified.

bCompleteness is defined as having an assigned code that corresponds with a WHO grade as defined by the American Joint Commission on Cancer's Collaborative Staging schema, SSDI Clinical Grade (2018+ only) or SSDI Pathological Grade (2018+ only).

cGrade as recorded in the American Joint Commission on Cancer's Collaborative Staging schema, SSDI Clinical Grade (2018+ only) or SSDI Pathological Grade (2018+ only). WHO grade may be reported according to 2007 or 2016 WHO classification depending on year of diagnosis, in which roman numerals are used to denote tumor grade.

dRadiation is defined using a recoded variable based on NAACCR Item #1360 (http://datadictionary.naaccr.org/default.aspx?c=10#136). Completeness is defined as having a value other than 'none' or 'unknown.'

eSurgery is defined using a recoded variable based on NAACCR Item #1290 (http://datadictionary.naaccr.org/default.aspx?c=10#1290). Please see the SEER site-specific surgery codes for more information on coding for this variable. (https://seer.cancer.gov/archive/tools/SEER2003.surg.prim.site.codes.pdf). Completeness is defined as having a value other than 'unknown.'

-- Percentages are not presented when category is not applicable.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; WHO, World Health Organization.

Table 10.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals of All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology, and NCI Age at Diagnosis Groups, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Childrenc (0-14) AYAd (15-39) Older Adults (40+)
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 1,410 282 0.47 (0.44-0.49) 9,819 1,964 1.84 (1.80-1.87) 72,783 14,557 8.72 (8.65-8.78)
Diffuse astrocytoma 627 125 0.21 (0.19-0.22) 2,614 523 0.48 (0.46-0.50) 4,393 879 0.56 (0.54-0.58)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 222 44 0.07 (0.06-0.08) 2,046 409 0.38 (0.36-0.39) 4,778 956 0.60 (0.58-0.62)
Glioblastoma 465 93 0.15 (0.14-0.17) 3,038 608 0.58 (0.56-0.60) 59,755 11,951 7.03 (6.97-7.09)
Oligodendroglioma 64 13 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 1,426 285 0.27 (0.25-0.28) 2,197 439 0.31 (0.29-0.32)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma -- -- -- 517 103 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 1,345 269 0.18 (0.17-0.19)
Oligoastrocytic tumors -- -- -- 178 36 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 315 63 0.04 (0.04-0.05)
Other Astrocytic Tumors 3,658 732 1.21 (1.17-1.24) 1,836 367 0.34 (0.32-0.35) 758 152 0.10 (0.10-0.11)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 3,283 657 1.08 (1.04-1.12) 1,463 293 0.27 (0.26-0.28) 593 119 0.08 (0.07-0.09)
Unique astrocytoma variants 375 75 0.12 (0.11-0.14) 373 75 0.07 (0.06-0.08) 165 33 0.02 (0.02-0.03)
Non-Malignant 232 46 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 112 22 0.02 (0.02-0.02) 37 7 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Malignant 143 29 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 261 52 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 128 26 0.02 (0.01-0.02)
Ependymal Tumors 925 185 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 1,924 385 0.36 (0.34-0.38) 4,062 812 0.53 (0.51-0.54)
Non-Malignant 112 22 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 910 182 0.17 (0.16-0.18) 1,980 396 0.26 (0.25-0.27)
Malignant 813 163 0.27 (0.25-0.29) 1,014 203 0.19 (0.18-0.20) 2,082 416 0.27 (0.26-0.28)
Other Gliomas 2,690 538 0.89 (0.85-0.92) 1,925 385 0.35 (0.34-0.37) 4,239 848 0.53 (0.52-0.55)
Glioma malignant, NOS 2,668 534 0.88 (0.85-0.91) 1,889 378 0.35 (0.33-0.36) 4,196 839 0.53 (0.51-0.54)
Other neuroepithelial tumors 22 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 36 7 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 43 9 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 26 5 0.00 (0.00-0.01)
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 17 3 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 1,411 282 0.47 (0.44-0.49) 2,164 433 0.40 (0.38-0.42) 1,764 353 0.23 (0.22-0.24)
Non-Malignant 1,324 265 0.44 (0.41-0.46) 1,973 395 0.36 (0.35-0.38) 1,082 216 0.15 (0.14-0.16)
Malignant 87 17 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 191 38 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 682 136 0.09 (0.08-0.09)
Choroid Plexus Tumors 359 72 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 210 42 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 258 52 0.03 (0.03-0.04)
Non-Malignant 261 52 0.09 (0.08-0.10) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 98 20 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- ---- -- -- ----
Tumors of the Pineal Region 143 29 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 294 59 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 332 66 0.04 (0.04-0.05)
Non-Malignant 18 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 117 23 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 172 34 0.02 (0.02-0.03)
Malignant 125 25 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 177 35 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 160 32 0.02 (0.02-0.02)
Embryonal Tumors 2,144 429 0.71 (0.68-0.74) 755 151 0.14 (0.13-0.15) 271 54 0.04 (0.03-0.04)
Medulloblastoma 1,464 293 0.48 (0.46-0.51) 633 127 0.11 (0.11-0.12) 155 31 0.02 (0.02-0.03)
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 365 73 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 31 6 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 16 3 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
All other embryonal 315 63 0.10 (0.09-0.12) 91 18 0.02 (0.01-0.02) 100 20 0.01 (0.01-0.02)
Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves 686 137 0.23 (0.21-0.24) 5,518 1,104 1.05 (1.02-1.07) 30,844 6,169 3.79 (3.75-3.83)
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- 30,818 6,164 3.79 (3.74-3.83)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 30,671 6,134 3.77 (3.73-3.81)
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 147 29 0.02 (0.02-0.02)
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- 26 5 0.00 (0.00-0.00)
Tumors of Meninges 680 136 0.22 (0.21-0.24) 11,756 2,351 2.27 (2.23-2.32) 171,969 34,394 20.91 (20.81-21.01)
Meningiomas -- -- -- 10,127 2,025 1.97 (1.93-2.01) 168,002 33,600 20.41 (20.31-20.51)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- 10,015 2,003 1.95 (1.91-1.99) 166,514 33,303 20.23 (20.13-20.33)
Malignant -- -- -- 112 22 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 1,488 298 0.18 (0.17-0.19)
Mesenchymal tumors 354 71 0.12 (0.10-0.13) -- -- -- 3,855 771 0.49 (0.47-0.50)
Non-Malignant 285 57 0.09 (0.08-0.11) -- -- -- 3,324 665 0.42 (0.41-0.43)
Malignant 69 14 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- 531 106 0.07 (0.06-0.07)
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- -- 112 22 0.01 (0.01-0.02)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 44 9 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 68 14 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 89 18 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 535 107 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 7,901 1,580 0.94 (0.92-0.96)
Lymphoma -- -- -- -- -- -- 7,862 1,572 0.94 (0.92-0.96)
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- -- 39 8 0.00 (0.00-0.01)
Germ Cell Tumors 581 116 0.19 (0.18-0.21) 625 125 0.11 (0.10-0.12) 74 15 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Non-Malignant 82 16 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 45 9 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 43 9 0.01 (0.00-0.01)
Malignant 499 100 0.16 (0.15-0.18) 580 116 0.11 (0.10-0.11) 31 6 0.00 (0.00-0.01)
Tumors of Sellar Region 1,774 355 0.59 (0.56-0.61) 23,663 4,733 4.39 (4.34-4.45) 54,559 10,912 6.98 (6.91-7.04)
Tumors of the pituitary 1,115 223 0.37 (0.35-0.39) 22,980 4,596 4.26 (4.21-4.32) 52,768 10,554 6.75 (6.69-6.81)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 52,678 10,536 6.74 (6.68-6.80)
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- 90 18 0.01 (0.01-0.01)
Craniopharyngioma 659 132 0.22 (0.20-0.24) 683 137 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 1,791 358 0.23 (0.21-0.24)
Unclassified Tumors 1,010 202 0.33 (0.31-0.35) 2,788 558 0.52 (0.50-0.54) 14,606 2,921 1.80 (1.77-1.83)
Hemangioma 287 57 0.09 (0.08-0.11) 1,158 232 0.22 (0.20-0.23) 2,770 554 0.36 (0.34-0.37)
Neoplasm, unspecified 571 114 0.19 (0.17-0.20) 1,503 301 0.28 (0.27-0.30) 11,573 2,315 1.41 (1.38-1.44)
Non-Malignant 409 82 0.14 (0.12-0.15) 1,151 230 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 5,394 1,079 0.66 (0.65-0.68)
Malignant 162 32 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 352 70 0.07 (0.06-0.07) 6,179 1,236 0.75 (0.73-0.76)
All other 152 30 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 127 25 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 263 53 0.03 (0.03-0.04)
Non-Malignant 120 24 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 32 6 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL e 17,560 3,512 5.79 (5.70-5.88) 63,812 12,762 11.96 (11.87-12.06) 364,420 72,884 44.65 (44.51-44.80)
Non-Malignant 5,888 1,178 1.94 (1.89-1.99) 46,363 9,273 8.71 (8.63-8.79) 267,063 53,413 32.92 (32.79-33.05)
Malignant 11,672 2,334 3.85 (3.78-3.92) 17,449 3,490 3.25 (3.20-3.30) 97,357 19,471 11.74 (11.66-11.81)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cChildren as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/pediatric.

dAdolescents and Young Adults (AYA), as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya.

eRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: AYA, Adolescents and Young Adults; CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

Fig. 16.

Fig. 16

Incidence Rate Ratiosa by Sex (Males:Females) for Selected Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Fig. 17.

Fig. 17

Incidence Rate Ratiosa by Race (A- Whites:Blacks and B- Whites:Asian Or Pacific Islanders [API]) for Selected Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Table 11.

One-, Five-, and Ten-Year Relative Survival Ratesa,b (RS) with 95% Confidence Intervals for Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology and Behavior, Overall, and by NCI Age Group at Diagnosis, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NPCR and SEER, 2001-2018 (varying)

Histopathology Age Groups (years) All (2004-2018) Malignant (2001-2018)c Non-Malignant (2004-2018)d
Ne 1-Year RS 
(95% CI) 5-Year RS 
(95% CI) 10-Year RS 
(95% CI) Nf 1-Year RS 
(95% CI) 5-Year RS 
(95% CI) 10-Year RS 
(95% CI) Ne 1-Year RS 
(95% CI) 5-Year RS 
(95% CI) 10-Year RS 
(95% CI)
Diffuse astrocytoma 0-14g 2,097 92.2 (91.0-93.3) 82.3 (80.5-83.9) 79.8 (77.8-81.7) 2,627 91.9 (90.7-92.9) 81.3 (79.7-82.8) 79.2 (77.4-80.8) -- -- -- --
15-39h 6,597 95.5 (95.0-96.0) 78.1 (76.9-79.2) 60.9 (59.3-62.4) 7,918 95.0 (94.5-95.5) 76.9 (75.8-77.9) 59.2 (57.8-60.5) -- -- -- --
40+ 11,838 62.7 (61.7-63.6) 33.4 (32.4-34.4) 25.1 (24.1-26.1) 14,446 61.0 (60.2-61.9) 32.3 (31.5-33.2) 23.8 (23.0-24.7) -- -- -- --
All ages 20,532 76.3 (75.7-76.9) 52.9 (52.1-53.6) 42.4 (41.6-43.3) 24,991 75.1 (74.5-75.6) 51.8 (51.1-52.4) 41.2 (40.5-41.9) -- -- -- --
Anaplastic astrocytoma 0-14 656 66.9 (63.1-70.4) 25.4 (21.9-29.1) 19.8 (16.2-23.5) 750 66.2 (62.7-69.5) 25.1 (21.9-28.5) 20.1 (17.0-23.5) -- -- -- --
15-39 4,058 92.5 (91.6-93.2) 62.8 (61.1-64.5) 46.2 (44.0-48.3) 4,765 91.4 (90.6-92.2) 61.3 (59.7-62.8) 45.1 (43.2-46.9) -- -- -- --
40+ 10,321 57.2 (56.2-58.2) 19.9 (19.1-20.8) 14.0 (13.1-14.9) 12,306 55.4 (54.5-56.3) 19.4 (18.6-20.2) 13.8 (13.1-14.6) -- -- -- --
All ages 15,035 67.1 (66.3-67.9) 31.7 (30.9-32.6) 22.9 (22.1-23.8) 17,821 65.5 (64.8-66.2) 30.9 (30.1-31.6) 22.5 (21.7-23.3) -- -- -- --
Glioblastoma 0-14 1,102 57.1 (54.1-60.0) 19.9 (17.4-22.5) 16.6 (14.1-19.2) 1,287 56.5 (53.7-59.2) 20.9 (18.5-23.3) 17.7 (15.4-20.0) -- -- -- --
15-39 6,467 76.8 (75.7-77.8) 26.6 (25.4-27.8) 18.6 (17.4-19.8) 7,629 75.8 (74.8-76.7) 26.4 (25.3-27.5) 18.6 (17.5-19.7) -- -- -- --
40+ 117,076 40.6 (40.4-40.9) 5.6 (5.5-5.8) 3.4 (3.2-3.5) 136,262 39.1 (38.8-39.3) 5.3 (5.2-5.4) 3.3 (3.1-3.4) -- -- -- --
All ages 124,645 42.7 (42.4-43.0) 6.9 (6.7-7.1) 4.3 (4.2-4.5) 145,178 41.2 (40.9-41.5) 6.6 (6.5-6.8) 4.3 (4.1-4.4) -- -- -- --
Oligodendroglioma 0-14 272 97.4 (94.6-98.8) 94.3 (90.6-96.5) 92.2 (87.8-95.1) 359 97.2 (94.8-98.5) 94.3 (91.3-96.3) 91.9 (88.1-94.5) -- -- -- --
15-39 3,934 98.6 (98.2-99.0) 92.5 (91.5-93.4) 78.5 (76.7-80.2) 4,874 98.7 (98.3-99.0) 92.2 (91.3-93.0) 77.4 (75.9-78.9) -- -- -- --
40+ 5,445 92.5 (91.7-93.2) 77.6 (76.3-78.9) 64.0 (62.1-65.7) 6,756 91.8 (91.1-92.5) 76.6 (75.4-77.7) 62.6 (61.0-64.1) -- -- -- --
All ages 9,651 95.2 (94.7-95.6) 84.2 (83.4-85.1) 70.9 (69.6-72.1) 11,989 94.8 (94.3-95.2) 83.6 (82.8-84.3) 69.7 (68.6-70.7) -- -- -- --
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 0-14 -- -- -- -- 55 83.7 (71.0-91.2) 59.8 (45.1-71.8) 52.0 (36.7-65.2) -- -- -- --
15-39 1,269 95.9 (94.6-96.9) 79.7 (77.0-82.0) 63.4 (59.7-66.8) 1,577 95.5 (94.3-96.4) 77.7 (75.3-79.8) 63.3 (60.2-66.1) -- -- -- --
40+ 2,998 85.9 (84.5-87.1) 59.8 (57.7-61.8) 46.4 (43.8-48.9) 3,719 84.0 (82.7-85.2) 55.9 (54.1-57.7) 43.1 (40.9-45.1) -- -- -- --
All ages 4,303 88.8 (87.8-89.7) 65.7 (64.0-67.3) 51.5 (49.4-53.6) 5,351 87.4 (86.4-88.3) 62.5 (61.0-63.9) 49.3 (47.5-51.0) -- -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors 0-14 153 91.5 (85.7-95.0) 80.6 (73.2-86.1) 78.0 (70.2-84.0) 194 90.7 (85.6-94.1) 77.4 (70.8-82.8) 75.5 (68.6-81.1) -- -- -- --
15-39 2,528 97.6 (96.9-98.1) 81.0 (79.3-82.5) 60.6 (58.3-62.9) 3,088 97.3 (96.7-97.9) 79.6 (78.1-81.0) 59.4 (57.3-61.3) -- -- -- --
40+ 3,025 82.7 (81.3-84.1) 54.9 (53.0-56.8) 43.6 (41.4-45.7) 3,659 81.9 (80.6-83.1) 53.5 (51.8-55.2) 42.0 (40.1-43.8) -- -- -- --
All ages 5,706 89.6 (88.7-90.4) 67.3 (66.0-68.5) 52.1 (50.6-53.7) 6,941 89.0 (88.2-89.8) 65.9 (64.7-67.0) 50.7 (49.4-52.1) -- -- -- --
Pilocytic 
astrocytoma 0-14 8,156 99.0 (98.7-99.2) 97.3 (96.8-97.6) 95.9 (95.3-96.4) 9,439 98.8 (98.6-99.0) 97.0 (96.6-97.4) 95.5 (95.0-96.0) -- -- -- --
15-39 3,973 98.5 (98.1-98.9) 94.9 (94.0-95.6) 93.0 (91.9-94.0) 4,672 98.4 (98.0-98.7) 94.7 (93.9-95.4) 92.8 (91.8-93.6) -- -- -- --
40+ 1,348 92.1 (90.4-93.5) 79.8 (77.1-82.3) 76.9 (73.5-79.9) 1,569 91.8 (90.2-93.1) 78.9 (76.4-81.2) 76.6 (73.6-79.3) -- -- -- --
All ages 13,477 98.2 (97.9-98.4) 94.8 (94.4-95.2) 93.1 (92.5-93.7) 15,680 98.0 (97.8-98.2) 94.5 (94.1-94.9) 92.9 (92.3-93.4) -- -- -- --
Unique astrocytoma variants 0-14 995 97.5 (96.2-98.3) 94.7 (92.9-96.0) 91.9 (89.4-93.9) 382 95.7 (93.1-97.4) 88.1 (84.0-91.1) 82.5 (77.1-86.7) 661 98.2 (96.8-99.0) 97.5 (95.9-98.5) 96.0 (93.4-97.6)
15-39 937 96.9 (95.5-97.9) 86.5 (83.8-88.7) 81.6 (78.2-84.6) 718 97.1 (95.5-98.1) 82.2 (78.9-85.1) 77.3 (73.3-80.7) 317 96.5 (93.7-98.1) 93.9 (90.3-96.3) 91.4 (86.4-94.5)
40+ 349 83.3 (78.8-87.0) 59.4 (53.3-64.9) 52.6 (45.2-59.4) 310 81.2 (76.2-85.2) 53.4 (46.9-59.4) 49.4 (42.1-56.3) 75 91.1 (81.3-95.8) 80.5 (68.1-88.5) 65.5 (46.2-79.3)
All ages 2,281 95.1 (94.0-95.9) 86.0 (84.3-87.5) 81.8 (79.7-83.7) 1,410 93.2 (91.7-94.5) 77.6 (75.0-79.9) 72.7 (69.7-75.4) 1,053 97.2 (95.9-98.0) 95.3 (93.6-96.5) 92.6 (90.1-94.4)
Ependymal tumors 0-14 2,456 95.6 (94.7-96.3) 80.4 (78.6-82.1) 72.0 (69.7-74.2) 2,597 94.6 (93.6-95.4) 76.8 (75.0-78.5) 67.3 (65.1-69.4) 275 99.7 (97.0-100.0) 97.5 (94.2-98.9) 97.5 (94.2-98.9)
15-39 5,002 98.3 (97.8-98.6) 94.7 (93.9-95.4) 91.7 (90.6-92.7) 3,259 97.1 (96.5-97.7) 91.1 (90.0-92.1) 87.2 (85.8-88.5) 2,230 99.5 (99.0-99.8) 99.0 (98.3-99.5) 97.7 (96.3-98.6)
40+ 9,470 95.0 (94.5-95.5) 91.0 (90.1-91.8) 87.9 (86.6-89.1) 5,834 93.2 (92.5-93.9) 86.8 (85.6-87.9) 83.0 (81.4-84.4) 4,510 96.7 (96.0-97.3) 95.2 (94.0-96.1) 93.2 (91.2-94.8)
All ages 16,928 96.0 (95.7-96.4) 90.5 (89.9-91.1) 86.7 (85.8-87.5) 11,690 94.6 (94.2-95.0) 85.8 (85.0-86.5) 80.7 (79.7-81.6) 7,015 97.7 (97.3-98.1) 96.5 (95.7-97.2) 94.9 (93.6-96.0)
Glioma malignant, NOS 0-14 6,180 81.9 (80.9-82.8) 69.5 (68.3-70.7) 68.4 (67.1-69.6) 7,201 81.1 (80.2-82.0) 68.2 (67.1-69.3) 67.1 (65.9-68.2) -- -- -- --
15-39 3,727 91.7 (90.8-92.6) 79.1 (77.6-80.6) 72.3 (70.4-74.1) 4,269 91.2 (90.2-92.0) 78.0 (76.6-79.3) 70.7 (69.0-72.4) -- -- -- --
40+ 7,932 53.1 (51.9-54.2) 35.9 (34.7-37.2) 29.6 (28.2-31.0) 9,355 51.4 (50.3-52.4) 34.2 (33.1-35.3) 28.1 (26.9-29.3) -- -- -- --
All ages 17,839 71.3 (70.6-72.0) 56.9 (56.1-57.7) 52.5 (51.6-53.4) 20,825 70.0 (69.3-70.6) 55.3 (54.5-56.0) 50.9 (50.1-51.7) -- -- -- --
Other neuroepithelial tumors 0-14 65 96.9 (87.8-99.2) 91.3 (80.1-96.4) 91.3 (80.1-96.4) 56 96.3 (85.9-99.1) 89.9 (77.1-95.7) 89.9 (77.1-95.7) -- -- -- --
15-39 88 96.6 (89.5-98.9) 88.2 (78.1-93.9) 84.7 (73.3-91.5) 70 95.6 (86.8-98.6) 87.0 (75.2-93.4) 80.0 (65.8-88.8) -- -- -- --
40+ 105 72.7 (62.7-80.4) 52.3 (40.7-62.6) 41.8 (28.8-54.3) 61 70.9 (57.2-81.0) 42.3 (28.1-55.8) 33.5 (19.5-48.1) 55 76.8 (62.7-86.1) 60.2 (43.8-73.2) 53.4 (34.1-69.4)
All ages 258 87.0 (82.0-90.6) 74.7 (68.2-80.1) 69.6 (61.9-76.0) 187 87.8 (81.9-91.9) 73.4 (65.6-79.8) 67.6 (58.8-75.0) 96 86.9 (78.0-92.4) 76.9 (65.8-84.8) 73.9 (61.2-83.1)
Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors 0-14 3,264 98.8 (98.3-99.1) 96.1 (95.3-96.8) 95.3 (94.3-96.1) 298 92.8 (89.1-95.2) 81.4 (76.1-85.6) 79.8 (74.3-84.3) 3,024 99.3 (98.9-99.6) 97.3 (96.5-97.8) 96.5 (95.5-97.2)
15-39 4,983 98.5 (98.1-98.8) 95.5 (94.8-96.1) 92.4 (91.3-93.4) 590 94.7 (92.5-96.3) 78.8 (75.0-82.1) 70.4 (65.7-74.5) 4,474 99.0 (98.6-99.3) 97.6 (97.0-98.1) 95.4 (94.3-96.2)
40+ 3,987 93.4 (92.5-94.2) 84.9 (83.3-86.2) 80.1 (78.0-82.1) 1,623 90.7 (89.0-92.1) 76.9 (74.3-79.4) 68.9 (65.3-72.2) 2,575 94.6 (93.6-95.5) 89.5 (87.8-91.0) 86.0 (83.4-88.1)
All ages 12,234 96.9 (96.6-97.2) 92.2 (91.6-92.8) 89.2 (88.4-90.0) 2,511 91.9 (90.7-93.0) 77.9 (75.9-79.8) 70.7 (68.1-73.1) 10,073 98.0 (97.6-98.3) 95.5 (94.9-95.9) 93.3 (92.5-94.0)
Choroid plexus tumors 0-14 961 95.4 (93.8-96.6) 89.9 (87.6-91.8) 88.0 (85.4-90.2) 283 86.1 (81.4-89.7) 65.5 (59.2-71.1) 60.2 (53.4-66.4) 718 98.5 (97.1-99.2) 97.5 (95.9-98.5) 96.8 (94.8-98.1)
15-39 586 98.2 (96.6-99.0) 96.0 (93.7-97.5) 92.5 (88.9-94.9) -- -- -- -- 547 98.2 (96.6-99.1) 97.2 (95.1-98.3) 95.5 (92.2-97.4)
40+ 676 89.7 (86.9-91.9) 84.9 (81.0-88.0) 81.6 (75.9-86.1) -- -- -- -- 629 90.7 (87.8-92.9) 86.5 (82.5-89.6) 84.4 (78.4-88.9)
All ages 2,223 94.4 (93.3-95.3) 90.0 (88.4-91.4) 87.3 (85.2-89.1) 379 85.8 (81.7-89.0) 66.9 (61.5-71.7) 58.2 (52.1-63.8) 1,894 95.8 (94.7-96.7) 93.9 (92.4-95.1) 92.5 (90.3-94.1)
Tumors of the pineal region 0-14 378 88.9 (85.2-91.7) 68.5 (63.1-73.3) 63.1 (57.1-68.5) 376 85.9 (81.9-89.1) 62.4 (56.9-67.4) 55.6 (49.7-61.1) 62 98.4 (88.5-99.8) 98.4 (88.5-99.8) 98.4 (88.5-99.8)
15-39 695 95.6 (93.7-96.9) 86.4 (83.2-89.0) 80.9 (76.8-84.4) 417 93.4 (90.4-95.4) 73.7 (68.5-78.2) 63.4 (57.1-68.9) 334 97.6 (95.2-98.8) 97.3 (94.3-98.7) 95.9 (91.6-98.0)
40+ 754 90.6 (88.1-92.6) 80.8 (76.9-84.0) 72.8 (67.3-77.6) 336 86.6 (82.2-89.9) 70.0 (63.8-75.3) 57.3 (49.4-64.4) 453 92.6 (89.5-94.9) 87.6 (82.8-91.1) 83.0 (75.6-88.4)
All ages 1,827 92.2 (90.8-93.4) 80.3 (78.0-82.3) 73.9 (71.0-76.6) 1,129 88.8 (86.8-90.6) 68.7 (65.6-71.7) 59.1 (55.3-62.6) 849 95.1 (93.2-96.4) 92.3 (89.6-94.3) 89.5 (85.4-92.5)
Embryonal tumors 0-14 6,037 81.9 (80.9-82.9) 64.0 (62.7-65.2) 59.1 (57.7-60.5) 7,197 81.5 (80.6-82.4) 63.2 (62.0-64.4) 58.4 (57.2-59.7) -- -- -- --
15-39 2,139 91.2 (89.9-92.4) 71.4 (69.3-73.5) 61.3 (58.8-63.8) 2,599 90.6 (89.4-91.6) 70.7 (68.8-72.6) 61.0 (58.8-63.1) -- -- -- --
40+ 783 69.7 (66.2-72.8) 45.4 (41.5-49.2) 36.9 (32.6-41.2) 919 69.7 (66.6-72.7) 46.3 (42.7-49.8) 37.2 (33.3-41.0) -- -- -- --
All ages 8,959 83.1 (82.3-83.9) 64.1 (63.0-65.2) 57.7 (56.5-58.9) 10,715 82.7 (82.0-83.4) 63.6 (62.6-64.6) 57.2 (56.2-58.3) -- -- -- --
Nerve sheath tumors 0-14 2,253 99.8 (99.4-99.9) 98.7 (98.1-99.2) 97.9 (96.9-98.5) -- -- -- -- 2,219 100.0 (0.0-100.0) 99.1 (98.5-99.5) 98.3 (97.4-98.9)
15-39 13,341 99.3 (99.1-99.4) 98.5 (98.2-98.7) 97.7 (97.2-98.1) -- -- -- -- 13,202 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 98.8 (98.5-99.0) 98.1 (97.6-98.5)
40+ 71,631 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 493 85.4 (81.8-88.4) 76.2 (71.4-80.2) 73.2 (67.0-78.5) 71,267 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4)
All ages 87,225 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 99.2 (99.1-99.3) 713 84.4 (81.4-87.0) 74.2 (70.4-77.5) 70.5 (65.8-74.7) 86,688 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4)
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves 0-14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
15-39 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40+ 53 97.5 (80.5-99.7) 95.2 (75.2-99.1) 89.0 (60.6-97.3) -- -- -- -- 53 97.5 (80.5-99.7) 95.2 (75.2-99.1) 89.0 (60.6-97.3)
All ages 65 96.4 (85.0-99.2) 92.8 (79.0-97.7) 87.7 (66.2-95.9) -- -- -- -- 65 96.4 (85.0-99.2) 92.8 (79.0-97.7) 87.7 (66.2-95.9)
Meningiomas 0-14 683 97.8 (96.3-98.7) 95.6 (93.6-97.0) 91.7 (88.6-94.0) 59 89.8 (78.6-95.3) 79.0 (65.9-87.5) 73.7 (59.1-83.8) 635 98.6 (97.2-99.3) 96.8 (94.9-98.1) 93.2 (90.1-95.3)
15-39 23,524 98.8 (98.6-98.9) 97.0 (96.7-97.2) 94.7 (94.3-95.1) 422 93.9 (91.0-95.8) 84.2 (80.0-87.5) 79.0 (74.0-83.1) 23,200 98.8 (98.7-99.0) 97.2 (96.9-97.4) 95.0 (94.6-95.4)
40+ 357,071 92.8 (92.7-92.9) 87.3 (87.1-87.4) 82.2 (81.9-82.5) 4,644 83.2 (82.0-84.3) 65.2 (63.4-66.8) 57.9 (55.7-60.0) 353,421 92.9 (92.8-93.0) 87.5 (87.3-87.7) 82.5 (82.2-82.8)
All ages 381,278 93.2 (93.1-93.3) 87.9 (87.7-88.1) 83.1 (82.8-83.4) 5,125 84.2 (83.0-85.2) 67.0 (65.4-68.6) 60.0 (57.9-61.9) 377,256 93.3 (93.2-93.4) 88.2 (88.0-88.4) 83.4 (83.1-83.7)
Mesenchymal tumors 0-14 1,270 97.9 (96.8-98.6) 94.5 (92.8-95.7) 92.3 (90.1-94.1) 194 85.8 (79.9-90.0) 69.0 (61.5-75.3) 62.3 (54.0-69.5) 1,110 99.4 (98.6-99.8) 97.9 (96.6-98.7) 96.3 (94.2-97.7)
15-39 4,450 98.2 (97.7-98.5) 95.9 (95.2-96.5) 93.5 (92.4-94.4) 541 92.3 (89.7-94.3) 80.4 (76.4-83.7) 71.9 (67.1-76.2) 4,019 98.8 (98.4-99.1) 97.5 (96.9-98.0) 95.7 (94.6-96.5)
40+ 10,687 94.3 (93.8-94.8) 89.7 (88.8-90.5) 84.5 (83.1-85.8) 1,292 87.1 (85.0-88.9) 69.1 (65.9-72.1) 52.1 (48.0-56.0) 9,596 95.2 (94.6-95.6) 92.1 (91.2-92.9) 88.2 (86.8-89.5)
All ages 16,407 95.7 (95.3-96.0) 91.8 (91.2-92.3) 87.6 (86.7-88.5) 2,027 88.4 (86.8-89.8) 72.3 (69.9-74.5) 58.9 (55.9-61.8) 14,725 96.5 (96.1-96.8) 94.0 (93.4-94.6) 90.9 (89.9-91.8)
Primary melanocytic lesions 0-14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
15-39 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40+ 185 68.5 (60.7-75.0) 43.2 (34.5-51.6) 26.2 (16.3-37.2) 130 60.5 (51.1-68.7) 30.5 (21.7-39.8) 16.3 (7.8-27.5) 74 84.3 (72.6-91.3) 59.1 (43.7-71.6) 37.6 (19.2-56.0)
All ages 254 68.8 (62.3-74.3) 46.0 (38.7-53.0) 31.3 (23.0-39.9) 182 58.4 (50.6-65.4) 32.2 (24.6-40.0) 20.6 (13.0-29.4) 99 87.4 (78.2-92.9) 66.5 (53.8-76.4) 49.2 (33.9-62.9)
Lymphoma 0-14 171 91.0 (85.4-94.5) 84.8 (78.1-89.6) 79.2 (70.3-85.7) 192 90.9 (85.8-94.3) 84.8 (78.5-89.4) 80.6 (73.0-86.3) -- -- -- --
15-39 1,528 67.3 (64.8-69.6) 59.2 (56.6-61.8) 54.9 (51.9-57.7) 1,909 63.0 (60.7-65.1) 54.1 (51.8-56.4) 50.2 (47.6-52.7) -- -- -- --
40+ 15,196 53.9 (53.0-54.7) 35.7 (34.8-36.6) 27.4 (26.4-28.5) 17,754 53.2 (52.5-54.0) 34.4 (33.6-35.2) 25.7 (24.8-26.6) -- -- -- --
All ages 16,895 55.5 (54.7-56.3) 38.5 (37.7-39.4) 30.8 (29.8-31.8) 19,855 54.6 (53.8-55.3) 37.0 (36.2-37.7) 28.9 (28.1-29.8) -- -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 0-14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
15-39 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40+ 148 82.3 (74.6-87.8) 67.5 (57.6-75.5) 63.0 (51.4-72.6) 186 82.4 (75.7-87.4) 65.0 (56.4-72.3) 59.8 (49.9-68.4) -- -- -- --
All ages 164 84.1 (77.0-89.1) 67.9 (58.7-75.5) 63.9 (53.1-72.8) 209 84.4 (78.4-88.9) 66.9 (58.9-73.6) 62.4 (53.3-70.3) -- -- -- --
Germ cell tumors 0-14 1,398 93.2 (91.7-94.5) 89.2 (87.4-90.8) 86.2 (83.9-88.2) 1,420 92.7 (91.2-94.0) 87.6 (85.6-89.3) 83.8 (81.4-85.9) 190 92.5 (87.5-95.6) 91.2 (85.8-94.6) 91.2 (85.8-94.6)
15-39 1,500 95.3 (94.0-96.3) 89.4 (87.6-91.0) 87.3 (85.1-89.2) 1,620 94.4 (93.1-95.4) 88.4 (86.5-90.0) 85.9 (83.8-87.8) 127 99.3 (93.5-99.9) 93.3 (86.2-96.8) 91.0 (82.9-95.4)
40+ 194 92.1 (86.8-95.3) 83.5 (75.9-88.9) 79.7 (70.9-86.1) 88 81.4 (71.3-88.3) 64.8 (52.7-74.6) 61.4 (47.6-72.6) 123 98.5 (90.1-99.8) 92.9 (82.3-97.3) 87.5 (75.2-94.0)
All ages 3,092 94.1 (93.2-94.9) 89.0 (87.7-90.1) 86.3 (84.8-87.8) 3,128 93.2 (92.3-94.1) 87.3 (86.0-88.5) 84.3 (82.7-85.7) 440 96.2 (93.7-97.7) 92.2 (88.5-94.7) 89.9 (85.5-93.0)
Tumors of the pituitary 0-14 2,430 99.8 (99.5-99.9) 99.4 (98.9-99.7) 99.2 (98.5-99.5) -- -- -- -- 2,428 99.8 (99.5-99.9) 99.4 (98.9-99.7) 99.2 (98.5-99.5)
15-39 53,372 99.7 (99.7-99.8) 99.4 (99.3-99.5) 98.8 (98.6-99.0) -- -- -- -- 53,301 99.7 (99.7-99.8) 99.4 (99.3-99.5) 98.8 (98.6-99.0)
40+ 116,677 97.5 (97.4-97.6) 95.8 (95.6-96.0) 93.4 (92.9-93.8) 377 88.2 (84.2-91.3) 79.3 (73.5-83.9) 70.6 (62.6-77.2) 116,373 97.5 (97.4-97.7) 95.9 (95.6-96.1) 93.4 (93.0-93.8)
All ages 172,479 98.2 (98.2-98.3) 97.0 (96.8-97.1) 95.2 (94.9-95.5) 480 90.4 (87.1-92.9) 81.6 (76.8-85.5) 75.3 (68.9-80.6) 172,102 98.3 (98.2-98.3) 97.0 (96.9-97.2) 95.3 (95.0-95.5)
Craniopharyngioma 0-14 1,843 98.7 (98.0-99.1) 96.0 (94.9-96.9) 92.6 (90.9-94.0) -- -- -- -- 1,835 98.7 (98.1-99.2) 96.1 (94.9-96.9) 92.6 (90.9-94.0)
15-39 1,891 96.2 (95.2-97.0) 91.2 (89.7-92.5) 87.3 (85.3-89.1) -- -- -- -- 1,889 96.2 (95.2-97.0) 91.3 (89.8-92.6) 87.4 (85.4-89.2)
40+ 4,265 88.9 (87.8-89.9) 78.3 (76.7-79.8) 69.2 (66.9-71.3) -- -- -- -- 4,255 88.9 (87.9-89.9) 78.4 (76.8-79.9) 69.2 (66.9-71.4)
All ages 7,999 92.9 (92.3-93.5) 85.6 (84.6-86.5) 79.3 (78.0-80.6) -- -- -- -- 7,979 92.9 (92.3-93.5) 85.7 (84.7-86.6) 79.3 (78.0-80.6)
Hemangioma 0-14 589 99.5 (98.3-99.9) 98.5 (97.0-99.3) 98.5 (97.0-99.3) -- -- -- -- 589 99.5 (98.3-99.9) 98.5 (97.0-99.3) 98.5 (97.0-99.3)
15-39 2,684 99.7 (99.3-99.9) 98.9 (98.1-99.3) 97.1 (95.7-98.1) -- -- -- -- 2,678 99.7 (99.3-99.9) 98.9 (98.2-99.3) 97.2 (95.8-98.1)
40+ 5,444 96.0 (95.4-96.6) 92.1 (90.9-93.2) 89.1 (87.0-91.0) -- -- -- -- 5,438 96.1 (95.4-96.7) 92.2 (90.9-93.3) 89.2 (87.0-91.0)
All ages 8,717 97.4 (97.0-97.8) 94.7 (93.9-95.4) 92.5 (91.1-93.6) -- -- -- -- 8,705 97.5 (97.0-97.8) 94.8 (94.0-95.5) 92.5 (91.2-93.7)
Neoplasm, unspecified 0-14 1,429 88.0 (86.2-89.6) 85.0 (82.9-86.8) 83.2 (80.9-85.2) 391 64.5 (59.5-69.1) 56.5 (51.3-61.4) 53.2 (47.8-58.4) 1,084 95.3 (93.8-96.4) 94.0 (92.3-95.3) 92.8 (90.8-94.5)
15-39 4,246 93.5 (92.7-94.3) 90.2 (89.2-91.2) 88.1 (86.8-89.2) 852 79.6 (76.7-82.2) 68.4 (65.0-71.6) 63.0 (59.2-66.6) 3,560 96.1 (95.4-96.7) 94.1 (93.2-94.9) 92.3 (91.1-93.4)
40+ 21,216 54.3 (53.6-55.0) 45.3 (44.5-46.1) 40.2 (39.2-41.2) 9,675 27.4 (26.5-28.4) 17.6 (16.7-18.5) 15.1 (14.2-16.1) 13,232 70.9 (70.1-71.7) 62.0 (61.0-63.1) 55.5 (54.1-56.8)
All ages 26,891 62.5 (61.9-63.2) 54.8 (54.1-55.5) 50.6 (49.7-51.4) 10,918 33.0 (32.1-34.0) 23.2 (22.3-24.1) 20.5 (19.5-21.5) 17,876 77.5 (76.9-78.2) 70.6 (69.8-71.4) 65.7 (64.6-66.7)
All other 0-14 402 89.0 (85.4-91.8) 84.4 (80.3-87.8) 84.4 (80.3-87.8) 125 59.1 (49.9-67.3) 39.4 (30.2-48.5) 37.8 (28.4-47.1) 295 99.4 (96.9-99.9) 99.4 (96.9-99.9) 99.4 (96.9-99.9)
15-39 361 97.8 (95.6-98.9) 94.1 (90.7-96.3) 91.9 (87.4-94.9) -- -- -- -- 332 98.9 (96.7-99.6) 97.5 (94.5-98.9) 95.2 (90.4-97.6)
40+ 561 87.9 (84.4-90.6) 84.8 (80.0-88.5) 75.7 (68.5-81.5) -- -- -- -- 537 89.2 (85.7-91.9) 86.6 (81.3-90.5) 77.5 (69.9-83.4)
All ages 1,324 91.0 (89.2-92.5) 87.3 (84.8-89.4) 83.3 (79.9-86.2) 191 64.5 (57.1-70.9) 42.8 (35.1-50.3) 39.9 (31.9-47.8) 1,164 94.6 (92.9-95.9) 93.2 (90.7-95.0) 88.8 (85.2-91.6)
TOTAL i 0-14 45,563 91.6 (91.3-91.8) 83.1 (82.8-83.5) 80.6 (80.2-81.0) 35,490 87.4 (87.1-87.8) 75.1 (74.6-75.6) 71.9 (71.4-72.5) 15,594 98.9 (98.8-99.1) 97.6 (97.3-97.8) 96.4 (96.0-96.8)
15-39 154,227 97.0 (96.9-97.1) 90.9 (90.7-91.1) 86.8 (86.6-87.0) 52,219 90.7 (90.5-91.0) 71.7 (71.3-72.1) 61.2 (60.6-61.7) 110,555 99.2 (99.2-99.3) 98.3 (98.2-98.4) 97.1 (96.9-97.2)
40+ 779,936 82.9 (82.9-83.0) 72.5 (72.3-72.6) 68.5 (68.4-68.7) 231,959 49.2 (49.0-49.4) 21.0 (20.8-21.2) 16.7 (16.5-16.9) 583,147 94.2 (94.1-94.3) 90.3 (90.2-90.5) 86.8 (86.5-87.0)
All ages 979,726 85.6 (85.5-85.7) 76.0 (75.9-76.1) 72.1 (72.0-72.3) 319,668 60.3 (60.2-60.5) 35.7 (35.5-35.9) 30.5 (30.3-30.7) 709,296 95.1 (95.0-95.2) 91.8 (91.7-91.9) 88.7 (88.6-88.9)

aThe cohort analysis of survival rates was utilized for calculating the survival estimates presented in this table. Long-term cohort-based survival estimates reflect the survival experience of individuals diagnosed over the time period, and they may not necessarily reflect the long-term survival outlook of newly diagnosed cases.

bRates are an estimate of the percentage of patients alive at one, two, five, and ten years, respectively.

cAssigned behavior code of /3 (see Table 2).

dAssigned behavior code of /0 or /1 (see Table 2).

eTotal number of cases that occurred within the included NPCR and SEER registries between 2004 and 2018.

fTotal number of cases that occurred within the included NPCR and SEER registries between 2001 and 2018.

gChildren as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/pediatric.

hAdolescents and Young Adults (AYA), as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya.

iTotal includes histopathologies not listed in this table.

-- Rates were not presented for categories with 50 or fewer cases and were suppressed for rates where fewer than 16 cases were surviving within a category.

** Confidence interval could not be calculated.

Abbreviations: NCI, National Cancer Institute; CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

Descriptive Summary of Glioblastoma

  • Glioblastoma was the third most frequently reported CNS histopathology and the most common malignant tumor histopathology overall (Table 8).

  • Glioblastoma accounted for 14.2% of all primary brain and other CNS tumors and 50.1% of primary malignant brain tumors (Figure 12B and Figure 5B).

  • Glioblastoma was more common in older adults and was less common in children (Table 10, Figure 18); these tumors comprised approximately 2.7% of all brain and other CNS tumors reported among ages 0–19 years (Figure 19).

  • Incidence of glioblastoma increased with age, with rates highest in individuals ages 75 to 84 years (Supplementary Table 8).

  • Glioblastoma was 1.6 times more common in males than females (Figure 16).

  • Glioblastoma was 1.95 times higher among people who are White compared to people who are Black (Figure 17).

  • Relative survival estimates for glioblastoma were quite low; 6.9% of patients survived five years post-diagnosis. These survival estimates were somewhat higher for the small number of patients who were diagnosed under age 20 years (Table 11, Supplementary Table 13).

Fig. 18.

Fig. 18

Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Selected Histopathologies and Age Group at Diagnosis A) Ages 0-19 Years and B) Ages 20+ Years CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Fig. 19.

Fig. 19

Distributiona in Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years) of All Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=25,340; Annual Average Cases=5,068) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Descriptive Summary of Embryonal Tumors

  • Embryonal tumors were the most frequently reported brain and other CNS tumor histopathology in children ages 0-4 years, and the fourth most common tumor type overall in children and adolescents ages 0-19 years (Table 12, Figure 19).

  • Embryonal tumors accounted for 12.2% of all primary brain and other CNS tumors in children ages 0-14 years, 9.2% of tumors in children and adolescents ages 0-19 years, and 0.8% of tumors diagnosed overall (Figure 19B, Figure 20B, Table 8).

  • Embryonal tumors within the CBTRUS histopathologic grouping scheme included multiple different histopathologies: medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), and several other histopathologies (Table 2).

  • Incidence of medulloblastoma decreased with age. Incidence was 0.51 per 100,000 population, 0.62 per 100,000 population, 0.32 per 100,000 population, and 0.15 per 100,000 population in children age groups 0–4, 5–9, 10–14 years, and adolescents ages 15–19 years, respectively (Table 12).

  • Incidence of ATRT was 0.33 per 100,000 population and 0.03 per 100,000 population in children ages 0–4 and 5–9 years, respectively. There were too few of these cases in older age groups to report (Table 12).

  • Embryonal tumors were 1.46 times more common in males than females (Figure 16), and this sex difference was largest in medulloblastoma (Supplementary Figure 7).

Table 12.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years), Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology and Age Group at Diagnosis, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology 0-19 Years 0-4 Years 5-9 Years 10-14 Years 15-19 Years
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 2,102 420 0.51 (0.49-0.54) 409 82 0.41 (0.38-0.46) 430 86 0.42 (0.39-0.47) 571 114 0.55 (0.51-0.60) 692 138 0.66 (0.61-0.71)
Diffuse astrocytoma 878 176 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 222 44 0.22 (0.20-0.26) 173 35 0.17 (0.15-0.20) 232 46 0.22 (0.20-0.26) 251 50 0.24 (0.21-0.27)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 332 66 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 51 10 0.05 (0.04-0.07) 79 16 0.08 (0.06-0.10) 92 18 0.09 (0.07-0.11) 110 22 0.10 (0.09-0.13)
Glioblastoma 695 139 0.17 (0.16-0.18) 106 21 0.11 (0.09-0.13) 150 30 0.15 (0.13-0.17) 209 42 0.20 (0.18-0.23) 230 46 0.22 (0.19-0.25)
Oligodendroglioma 145 29 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 17 3 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 17 3 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 30 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 81 16 0.08 (0.06-0.10)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 16 3 0.00 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors 36 7 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 4,382 876 1.08 (1.04-1.11) 1,352 270 1.37 (1.29-1.44) 1,247 249 1.23 (1.16-1.30) 1,059 212 1.03 (0.96-1.09) 724 145 0.69 (0.64-0.74)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 3,885 777 0.95 (0.92-0.98) 1,261 252 1.27 (1.20-1.35) 1,121 224 1.11 (1.04-1.17) 901 180 0.87 (0.82-0.93) 602 120 0.57 (0.53-0.62)
Unique astrocytoma variants 497 99 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 91 18 0.09 (0.07-0.11) 126 25 0.12 (0.10-0.15) 158 32 0.15 (0.13-0.18) 122 24 0.12 (0.10-0.14)
Malignant 230 46 0.06 (0.05-0.06) -- -- -- 44 9 0.04 (0.03-0.06) 87 17 0.08 (0.07-0.10) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 267 53 0.07 (0.06-0.07) -- -- -- 82 16 0.08 (0.06-0.10) 71 14 0.07 (0.05-0.09) -- -- --
Ependymal Tumors 1,185 237 0.29 (0.27-0.31) 451 90 0.46 (0.42-0.50) 224 45 0.22 (0.19-0.25) 250 50 0.24 (0.21-0.27) 260 52 0.25 (0.22-0.28)
Malignant 966 193 0.24 (0.22-0.25) 432 86 0.44 (0.40-0.48) 198 40 0.20 (0.17-0.22) 183 37 0.18 (0.15-0.20) 153 31 0.15 (0.12-0.17)
Non-Malignant 219 44 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 19 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 26 5 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 67 13 0.06 (0.05-0.08) 107 21 0.10 (0.08-0.12)
Other Gliomas 3,188 638 0.78 (0.76-0.81) 902 180 0.91 (0.85-0.97) 1,022 204 1.01 (0.95-1.07) 766 153 0.74 (0.69-0.80) 498 100 0.47 (0.43-0.52)
Glioma malignant, NOS 3,160 632 0.78 (0.75-0.80) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other neuroepithelial tumors 28 6 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 2,090 418 0.51 (0.49-0.53) 375 75 0.38 (0.34-0.42) 374 75 0.37 (0.33-0.41) 662 132 0.64 (0.59-0.69) 679 136 0.65 (0.60-0.70)
Malignant 120 24 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 36 7 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 19 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 32 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 33 7 0.03 (0.02-0.04)
Non-Malignant 1,970 394 0.48 (0.46-0.50) 339 68 0.34 (0.31-0.38) 355 71 0.35 (0.32-0.39) 630 126 0.61 (0.56-0.66) 646 129 0.61 (0.57-0.66)
Choroid Plexus Tumors 407 81 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 254 51 0.26 (0.23-0.29) 47 9 0.05 (0.03-0.06) 58 12 0.06 (0.04-0.07) 48 10 0.05 (0.03-0.06)
Malignant 98 20 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 83 17 0.08 (0.07-0.10) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 309 62 0.08 (0.07-0.08) 171 34 0.17 (0.15-0.20) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of the Pineal Region 215 43 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 55 11 0.06 (0.04-0.07) 50 10 0.05 (0.04-0.07) 38 8 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 72 14 0.07 (0.05-0.09)
Malignant 179 36 0.04 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 54 11 0.05 (0.04-0.07)
Non-Malignant 36 7 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 18 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03)
Embryonal Tumors 2,338 468 0.58 (0.55-0.60) 1,053 211 1.07 (1.00-1.13) 715 143 0.71 (0.66-0.76) 376 75 0.36 (0.33-0.40) 194 39 0.18 (0.16-0.21)
Medulloblastoma 1,626 325 0.40 (0.38-0.42) 509 102 0.51 (0.47-0.56) 623 125 0.62 (0.57-0.67) 332 66 0.32 (0.29-0.36) 162 32 0.15 (0.13-0.18)
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 372 74 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 320 64 0.33 (0.29-0.36) 32 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
All other embryonal 340 68 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 224 45 0.23 (0.20-0.26) 60 12 0.06 (0.05-0.08) -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves 1,173 235 0.29 (0.27-0.30) 216 43 0.22 (0.19-0.25) 182 36 0.18 (0.15-0.21) 288 58 0.28 (0.25-0.31) 487 97 0.46 (0.42-0.51)
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 1,252 250 0.30 (0.29-0.32) 231 46 0.24 (0.21-0.27) 157 31 0.16 (0.13-0.18) 292 58 0.28 (0.25-0.32) 572 114 0.54 (0.50-0.59)
Meningiomas 671 134 0.16 (0.15-0.18) 59 12 0.06 (0.05-0.08) 84 17 0.08 (0.07-0.10) 175 35 0.17 (0.15-0.20) 353 71 0.34 (0.30-0.37)
Malignant 21 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 650 130 0.16 (0.15-0.17) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Mesenchymal tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 133 27 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 23 5 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 36 7 0.04 (0.02-0.05) 30 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 44 9 0.04 (0.03-0.06)
Lymphoma -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 863 173 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 106 21 0.11 (0.09-0.13) 156 31 0.15 (0.13-0.18) 319 64 0.31 (0.28-0.34) 282 56 0.27 (0.24-0.30)
Malignant 770 154 0.19 (0.18-0.20) -- -- -- 128 26 0.13 (0.11-0.15) 302 60 0.29 (0.26-0.33) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 93 19 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- 28 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 17 3 0.02 (0.01-0.03) -- -- --
Tumors of Sellar Region 4,530 906 1.10 (1.07-1.13) 186 37 0.19 (0.16-0.22) 606 121 0.60 (0.55-0.65) 982 196 0.95 (0.89-1.01) 2,756 551 2.62 (2.53-2.72)
Tumors of the pituitary 3,723 745 0.90 (0.87-0.93) 44 9 0.04 (0.03-0.06) 314 63 0.31 (0.28-0.35) 757 151 0.73 (0.68-0.79) 2,608 522 2.48 (2.39-2.58)
Craniopharyngioma 807 161 0.20 (0.18-0.21) 142 28 0.14 (0.12-0.17) 292 58 0.29 (0.26-0.32) 225 45 0.22 (0.19-0.25) 148 30 0.14 (0.12-0.17)
Unclassified Tumors 1,481 296 0.36 (0.34-0.38) 336 67 0.34 (0.31-0.38) 290 58 0.29 (0.25-0.32) 384 77 0.37 (0.34-0.41) 471 94 0.45 (0.41-0.49)
Hemangioma 486 97 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 73 15 0.07 (0.06-0.09) 83 17 0.08 (0.07-0.10) 131 26 0.13 (0.11-0.15) 199 40 0.19 (0.16-0.22)
Neoplasm, unspecified 811 162 0.20 (0.19-0.21) 176 35 0.18 (0.15-0.21) 169 34 0.17 (0.14-0.19) 226 45 0.22 (0.19-0.25) 240 48 0.23 (0.20-0.26)
Malignant 213 43 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 69 14 0.07 (0.05-0.09) 49 10 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 44 9 0.04 (0.03-0.06) 51 10 0.05 (0.04-0.06)
Non-Malignant 598 120 0.15 (0.13-0.16) 107 21 0.11 (0.09-0.13) 120 24 0.12 (0.10-0.14) 182 36 0.18 (0.15-0.20) 189 38 0.18 (0.16-0.21)
All other 184 37 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 87 17 0.09 (0.07-0.11) 38 8 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 27 5 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 32 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04)
Malignant 40 8 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 144 29 0.04 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL c 25,339 5,068 6.20 (6.12-6.27) 5,949 1,190 6.03 (5.87-6.18) 5,536 1,107 5.47 (5.33-5.62) 6,075 1,215 5.88 (5.74-6.03) 7,779 1,556 7.40 (7.24-7.57)
Malignant 14,385 2,877 3.53 (3.47-3.59) 4,439 888 4.49 (4.36-4.63) 3,857 771 3.81 (3.69-3.93) 3,376 675 3.27 (3.16-3.38) 2,713 543 2.58 (2.49-2.68)
Non-Malignant 10,954 2,191 2.67 (2.62-2.72) 1,510 302 1.53 (1.46-1.61) 1,679 336 1.66 (1.58-1.74) 2,699 540 2.61 (2.52-2.71) 5,066 1,013 4.82 (4.69-4.96)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; US, United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, Not otherwise specified.

Fig. 20.

Fig. 20

Distributiona in Children (Ages 0-14 Years) of All Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=17,561; Annual Average Cases=3,512) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Distributions and Incidence by Age at Diagnosis

Incidence Rates by Age at Diagnosis

The overall AAAIR for 2015-2019 for all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 24.71 per 100,000 population (Table 5). The overall incidence rate was 5.79 per 100,000 population for children ages 0-14 years, 11.96 per 100,000 population for adolescents and young adults ages 15-39 years, and 44.65 per 100,000 population for adults ages 40+ years (Table 10). The overall incidence rates of tumors by behavior and age group (0-14 years, 0-19 years and 20+ years) are shown in Figure 21.

Fig. 21.

Fig. 21

Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Age Group at Diagnosis and Behavior, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Incidence Rates by Age at Diagnosis and Histopathology

The AAAIRs by age and histopathology at diagnosis are presented in Table 10, Table 12, andSupplementary Table 8, as well as in Figure 18A (Ages 0-19 Years) and Figure 18B (Ages 20+ Years).

  • The incidence rate for all brain and other CNS tumors was highest among ages 85+ years (90.05 per 100,000) and lowest among children and adolescents ages 0-19 years (6.2 per 100,000).

  • Incidence rates of pilocytic astrocytoma, germ cell tumors, and embryonal tumors were higher in the younger age groups and decreased with advancing age.

  • Incidence rates of meningiomas increased with age.

  • Incidence rates declined with increasing age for those ages 0-19 years for gliomas, choroid plexus tumors, and medulloblastomas.

  • Incidence rates of other astrocytic tumors and germ cell tumors were higher in the younger age groups and decreased with advancing age.

Median Age at Diagnosis

The median age at diagnosis for all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 61 years (Table 5).

  • The histopathology-specific median ages ranged from eight years for embryonal tumors to 70 years for neoplasm, unspecified.

  • Pilocytic astrocytomas, unique astrocytoma variants, neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors, choroid plexus tumors, tumors of the pineal region, embryonal tumors, and germ cell tumors were histopathologies with younger median ages at diagnosis compared to other histopathologies.

  • The most commonly diagnosed histopathologies in older ages were glioblastoma, meningioma, and lymphoma (median age of 65, 67, and 67 years, respectively).

Distribution and Incidence Rates of Tumors by Site, Histopathology, and Age at Diagnosis

Distribution and Incidence Rates of Tumors by Site, Histopathology, and Age at Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years)

Brain and other CNS tumors are the most common form of solid tumors in children, and they account for the majority of cancer mortality in this age-group. About 5.7% of the reported brain and other CNS tumors during 2015-2019 occurred in children and adolescents ages 0-19 years (Table 12). The distribution of brain and other CNS tumors for children and adolescents ages 0-19 years by site is shown in Figure 19A.

  • The largest percentages of tumors in childhood and adolescence were located in the pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct (18%).

  • Frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the brain accounted for 5.8%, 6.6%, 2.6%, and 1.2% of all brain and other CNS tumors in childhood and adolescence, respectively.

  • Cerebrum, ventricle, brain stem, and cerebellum tumors accounted for 5.4%, 5.2%, 10.1%, and 13.9% of all brain and other CNS tumors in childhood and adolescence, respectively.

  • The cranial nerves and the spinal cord and cauda equina accounted for 7.5% and 5.1% of all brain and other CNS tumors in childhood and adolescence, respectively.

Figure 19B presents the most common brain and other CNS histopathologies in children and adolescents ages 0-19 years.

  • For children and adolescents ages 0-19 years, pilocytic astrocytomas, other gliomas, and embryonal tumors accounted for 15.3%, 12.6%, and 9.2%, respectively.

  • Tumors of the pituitary were the most common nonglial and predominantly non-malignant histopathology and accounted for 14.7% of all tumors in this age group.

  • Gliomas accounted for approximately 44.6% of tumors in children and adolescents ages 0-19 years.

  • Medulloblastomas accounted for 69.5% of all embryonal tumors in this age group.

Distribution of Tumors by Site and Histopathology in Children (Ages 0-14 Years)

Approximately 3.9% of all reported tumors occurred in children ages 0-14 years. The distribution of brain and other CNS tumors for children ages 0-14 years by site is shown in Figure 20A.

  • Tumors of cerebellum (16.9%) comprised the largest proportion of tumors followed by tumors located in other brain (13.1%) and brain stem (12.6%).

Figure 20B presents the most common brain and other CNS histopathologies in children ages 0-14 years.

  • For children ages 0-14 years, pilocytic astrocytomas, other gliomas, and embryonal tumors accounted for 18.7%, 15.3%, and 12.2%, respectively.

  • Gliomas accounted for approximately 49.4% of tumors in children ages 0-14 years.

  • Of embryonal tumors, medulloblastomas, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), and all other embryonal tumors accounted for 68.3%, 17.2%, and 14.8%, respectively.

Distribution of Tumors by Site and Histopathology in Adolescents (Ages 15-19 Years)

About 1.7% of the reported brain and other CNS tumors during 2015-2019 occurred in adolescents ages 15-19 years for a total of 7,779 tumors diagnosed between 2015 and 2019 (Table 12). The distribution of these tumors by site is shown in Figure 22A.

Fig. 22.

Fig. 22

Distributiona in Adolescents (Ages 15-19 Years) of All Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=7,779; Annual Average Cases=1,556) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • 35.8% of these tumors were diagnosed in the pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct.

  • The frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe accounted for 18.4% of tumors in this age group.

The distribution of brain and other CNS tumors in adolescents ages 15-19 years by histopathology is shown in Figure 22B.

  • The most common histopathology in adolescents was tumors of the pituitary (33.5%).

  • Gliomas accounted for approximately 27.9% of tumors in adolescents. Of these gliomas, the histopathology pilocytic astrocytoma accounted for 7.7% of all tumors in this age group.

Incidence Rates by Histopathology Defined by ICCC in Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years)

Supplementary Table 10 presents the CBTRUS brain and other CNS tumor data for children and adolescents used for this report according to the ICCC grouping system for pediatric cancers (See Supplementary Table 1 for more additional information on the ICCC classification scheme).

Distribution and Incidence Rates of Adolescent and Young Adult Primary Brain and Other CNS Tumors (Ages 15-39 Years)
  • There were 63,812 primary brain and other CNS tumors diagnosed in AYA between 2015 and 2019, representing 14.3% of all brain and other CNS tumors (Figure 23).

  • The overall incidence rate in this age group was 11.96 per 100,000 population (Table 10). Incidence of malignant tumors was 3.25 per 100,000, and incidence of non-malignant tumors was 8.71 per 100,000 (Table 10).

  • Tumors of the sellar region had the highest incidence (4.39 per 100,000 population), followed by tumors of the meninges (2.27 per 100,000 population) (Table 10).

  • The most common histopathology in AYA was tumors of the pituitary (4.26 per 100,000 population), followed by meningiomas (1.97 per 100,000 population) and nerve sheath tumors (1.04 per 100,000 population) (Table 10).

  • The majority of AYA brain and other CNS tumors occurred in the pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct (37.5%), followed by the meninges (16.2%) (Figure 23A).

  • Approximately 17.6% of tumors diagnosed in AYA were located within the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the brain combined (Figure 23A).

  • Cerebrum, ventricle, cerebellum, and brain stem tumors combined accounted for about 9.9% of all AYA tumors (Figure 23A).

  • The predominately non-malignant tumors of the pituitary (36%), meningioma (15.9%), and nerve sheath (8.6%) represented over half of CNS tumors diagnosed in AYA (Figure 23B).

  • Gliomas accounted for approximately 24.8% of all brain and other CNS tumors in AYA, and about 82.4% of all malignant tumors (Figure 23B).

  • AYA had higher rates of relative survival than adults greater than 40 years old for all histopathologic types. Though one-year relative survival for most tumor types was higher for AYA than children, five- and ten-year survival were usually higher for children as compared to AYA (Table 11).

Fig. 23.

Fig. 23

Distributiona in Adolescents and Young Adults (Ages 15-39 Years) of All Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors (Five-Year Total=63,812; Annual Average Cases=12,762) by A) Site and B) Histopathology, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics - NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Distribution and Incidence Rates by CCR and Diagnostic Confirmation

The overall number of reported tumors is listed by CCR in Table 13. While most malignant tumors are diagnosed by histopathologic confirmation (where the patient receives surgery and diagnosis is confirmed on tissue by a pathologist), brain and other CNS tumors may also be diagnosed by radiographic confirmation only (where the tumor was visualized on MRI, CT, X-ray, or other imaging technology, but surgery was not performed). Please note, while five years of data are available for most included CCR, data were not available from Nevada for diagnosis years 2018 and 2019 due to data quality issues.

Table 13.

Five-Year Totala, Annual Average Totalb, Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesc with 95% Confidence Intervals, and Characteristics of All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Central Cancer Registry, Behavior, and Diagnostic Confirmation, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics - NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Central Cancer Registry Total Malignant Non-Malignant Average Annual 5-Year Populationd
5-Year Total Annual Average Histopatho-
logically- Confirmed (%)e
Radiographically-Confirmed (%)f 5-Year Total % Malignant Histopatho-
logically-Confirmed (%)
Radiographically--Confirmed (%) 5-Year Total % Malignant Histopatho-
logically-Confirmed (%)
Radiographically-Confirmed (%)
Alabama 5,546 1,109 56.6 36.7 1,912 34.5 77.1 6.7 3,634 65.5 45.7 52.5 4,879,842
Alaska 880 176 47.8 48.8 267 30.3 81.7 13.1 613 69.7 33.1 64.3 738,443
Arizona 8,187 1,637 62.4 33.8 2,541 31 85 7.8 5,646 69 52.2 45.5 7,056,347
Arkansas 3,918 784 51.9 43.4 1,203 30.7 81.5 10.6 2,715 69.3 38.8 57.9 3,001,710
California 48,214 9,643 56 39.3 13,686 28.4 84.7 8.3 34,528 71.6 44.6 51.6 39,253,268
Colorado 8,558 1,712 47.3 49.9 2,060 24.1 83.4 11.8 6,498 75.9 35.9 62 5,614,247
Connecticut 5,143 1,029 63.9 33.2 1,656 32.2 89.6 7.1 3,487 67.8 51.7 45.6 3,576,860
Delaware 1,142 228 60.8 36.8 386 33.8 85.2 10.9 756 66.2 48.3 50 958,730
District of Columbia 851 170 50.4 46.3 180 21.1 85.6 7.2 671 78.8 41 56.8 694,814
Florida 32,991 6,598 51.1 45.2 9,048 27.4 83.8 10.5 23,943 72.6 38.8 58.3 20,914,084
Georgia 14,863 2,973 46.2 47.2 3,519 23.7 83.1 11 11,344 76.3 34.7 58.4 10,411,247
Hawaii 1,571 314 53 41.4 382 24.3 82.7 10.2 1,189 75.7 43.5 51.4 1,423,273
Idaho 2,374 475 57.6 39.8 750 31.6 83.3 13.1 1,624 68.4 45.8 52.1 1,719,482
Illinois 18,227 3,645 52.9 44.2 4,846 26.6 88 7.3 13,381 73.4 40.2 57.6 12,770,578
Indiana 7,782 1,556 54.1 41.9 2,603 33.5 84.2 9.6 5,179 66.6 39 58.1 6,668,180
Iowa 4,713 943 54.3 42.8 1,377 29.2 83.2 11.5 3,336 70.8 42.4 55.8 3,141,796
Kansas 3,641 728 53.7 43.4 1,100 30.2 88.4 8.4 2,541 69.8 38.7 58.6 2,911,994
Kentucky 7,374 1,475 46.6 46.4 2,002 27.1 80.1 11 5,372 72.8 34.1 59.6 4,452,328
Louisiana 6,620 1,324 53.2 41.4 1,625 24.6 86.1 9.8 4,995 75.4 42.5 51.7 4,668,950
Maine 1,574 315 69.4 27.3 689 43.8 84.2 10.3 885 56.2 58 40.5 1,336,616
Maryland 8,206 1,641 54.9 40.4 2,232 27.2 84.4 6.7 5,974 72.8 43.9 53 6,024,167
Massachusetts 8,250 1,650 67.4 28.2 2,972 36 87.8 6.6 5,278 64 55.9 40.4 6,853,785
Michigan 12,392 2,478 56.9 37.7 3,976 32.1 85 6.5 8,416 67.9 43.6 52.5 9,967,487
Minnesota 6,723 1,345 65.4 31.9 2,334 34.7 87 9.2 4,389 65.3 54 43.9 5,565,492
Mississippi 3,766 753 54.1 42.2 1,034 27.5 86.1 10.1 2,732 72.5 42 54.4 2,986,521
Missouri 8,544 1,709 51.1 44.2 2,539 29.7 83.8 8.6 6,005 70.3 37.2 59.3 6,108,928
Montana 1,593 319 53 42.6 501 31.4 80.4 14 1,092 68.6 40.4 55.8 1,051,887
Nebraska 2,243 449 57.8 39.1 805 35.9 84 10.8 1,438 64.1 43.1 54.9 1,914,725
Nevadag 2,190 730 54.5 40.8 687 31.4 82.7 8.3 1,503 68.6 41.6 55.7 2,358,182
New Hampshire 1,977 395 57.6 39.4 652 33 90.8 5.1 1,325 67 41.2 56.3 1,349,483
New Jersey 14,083 2,817 50.3 44.6 3,745 26.6 85.2 9.2 10,338 73.4 37.6 57.4 8,883,006
New Mexico 2,067 413 68.9 24.5 713 34.5 88.2 5.8 1,354 65.5 58.8 34.4 2,093,772
New York 32,321 6,464 50.3 46.2 7,906 24.5 85 10.2 24,415 75.5 39 57.8 19,578,958
North Carolina 14,618 2,924 52.4 44 3,947 27 85.9 9.2 10,671 73 40 56.9 10,273,504
North Dakota 841 168 46.4 50.8 258 30.7 83.3 11.6 583 69.3 30 68.1 758,438
Ohio 13,994 2,799 63.7 31.8 5,056 36.1 87.6 6.2 8,938 63.9 50.2 46.2 11,661,096
Oklahoma 4,567 913 58.1 37.8 1,511 33.1 82.1 9.3 3,056 66.9 46.2 51.8 3,935,285
Oregon 4,861 972 64.8 30.5 1,703 35 84.2 6.9 3,158 65 54.4 43.3 4,131,752
Pennsylvania 20,292 4,058 48.5 46.9 5,795 28.6 81.4 9.2 14,497 71.4 35.3 62 12,796,195
Rhode Island 1,144 229 67 28.6 452 39.5 87.4 6.6 692 60.5 53.6 42.9 1,057,750
South Carolina 6,463 1,293 54 41.8 1,990 30.8 85.6 8.5 4,473 69.2 40 56.6 5,027,109
South Dakota 1,082 216 41.2 55.5 312 28.8 75.3 17.6 770 71.2 27.4 70.8 871,720
Tennessee 9,174 1,835 50.8 45.9 2,632 28.7 85.6 8.8 6,542 71.3 36.8 60.8 6,713,977
Texas 37,517 7,503 47.4 47.1 9,593 25.6 80.6 12.8 27,924 74.4 36 58.9 28,256,995
Utah 6,114 1,223 39.1 59.5 1,092 17.9 84.2 12.7 5,022 82.1 29.3 69.7 3,097,989
Vermont 945 189 54.3 43.1 280 29.6 86.1 6.8 665 70.4 40.9 58.4 624,831
Virginia 9,257 1,851 60.2 35.9 3,010 32.5 85.8 6.1 6,247 67.5 47.9 50.2 8,464,705
Washington 13,542 2,708 43 52.2 3,191 23.6 80.7 11 10,351 76.4 31.4 64.9 7,407,203
West Virginia 2,834 567 49.2 46.1 821 29 86.4 8.7 2,013 71 34 61.4 1,819,133
Wisconsin 9,315 1,863 48.2 48.7 2,547 27.3 83.1 12.3 6,768 72.7 35 62.5 5,793,029
Wyoming 708 142 61.7 35.7 227 32.1 86.8 9.2 481 67.9 49.9 48.2 582,159
TOTAL 445,792 89,158 52.9 42.8 126,345 28.3 84.3 9.3 319,447 71.7 40.5 56 324,202,052

aWith the exception of Nevada, where total cases represent three years of diagnoses (2015, 2016, 2017).

bAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five, with the exception of Nevada where annual average cases are obtained by dividing total by three.

cRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

dPopulation estimates were obtained from the United States Bureau of the Census available on the SEER program website.

eHistopathologic confirmation includes tumors classified as having diagnosis confirmed by: positive histopathology, positive cytology, positive histopathology plus – positive immunophenotyping and/or positive genetic studies, or positive microscopic confirmation, method not specified.

fRadiographic confirmation includes tumors classified as having diagnosis confirmed by Radiography and/or other imaging techniques without microscopic confirmation.

gData not available for diagnosis years 2018-2019.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category, or where the inclusion of the count and rate would allow for back-calculation of suppressed values. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • Approximately 71.7% of tumors were non-malignant, but there was variation by CCR (range: 56.2%-82.1%) (Table 13).

  • Overall, 52.9% of tumors were histopathologically-confirmed. A larger proportion of malignant tumors were histopathologically-confirmed (84.3%) compared to non-malignant tumors (40.5%) (Table 9).

  • A slight majority of non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors were radiographically-confirmed (56%).

The overall AAAIRs by age, behavior, and CCR are shown in Table 14, Supplementary Table 9, and Figure 20.

Table 14.

Five-Year Totala, Annual Average Totalb, Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesc with 95% Confidence Intervals for Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Age at Diagnosis, Behavior, and Central Cancer Registry, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Central 
Cancer 
Registry All Ages 0-19 Years 20+ Years
All Malignant All Malignant All Malignant
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Alabama 5,546 1,109 19.92 (19.38-20.47) 1,912 382 6.84 (6.53-7.16) 323 65 5.27 (4.72-5.88) 220 44 3.61 (3.15-4.12) 5,223 1,045 25.81 (25.09-26.54) 1,692 338 8.14 (7.74-8.55)
Alaska 880 176 24.45 (22.79-26.21) 267 53 7.17 (6.30-8.13) 65 13 6.52 (5.03-8.31) 38 8 3.75 (2.65-5.15) 815 163 31.67 (29.42-34.04) 229 46 8.55 (7.42-9.80)
Arizona 8,187 1,637 20.46 (20.01-20.92) 2,541 508 6.32 (6.07-6.58) 514 103 5.62 (5.14-6.13) 268 54 2.95 (2.60-3.32) 7,673 1,535 26.43 (25.82-27.04) 2,273 455 7.68 (7.36-8.02)
Arkansas 3,918 784 23.04 (22.31-23.80) 1,203 241 6.99 (6.59-7.41) 216 43 5.51 (4.80-6.30) 121 24 3.09 (2.56-3.69) 3,702 740 30.10 (29.11-31.11) 1,082 216 8.56 (8.05-9.11)
California 48,214 9,643 23.00 (22.79-23.21) 13,686 2,737 6.55 (6.44-6.67) 2,648 530 5.26 (5.06-5.46) 1,505 301 2.99 (2.84-3.15) 45,566 9,113 30.14 (29.86-30.42) 12,181 2,436 7.98 (7.84-8.13)
Colorado 8,558 1,712 28.86 (28.24-29.49) 2,060 412 6.91 (6.61-7.22) 443 89 6.30 (5.72-6.91) 219 44 3.12 (2.72-3.56) 8,115 1,623 37.94 (37.10-38.79) 1,841 368 8.43 (8.04-8.84)
Connecticut 5,143 1,029 24.61 (23.92-25.32) 1,656 331 7.93 (7.54-8.34) 263 53 6.15 (5.43-6.94) 155 31 3.71 (3.15-4.35) 4,880 976 32.04 (31.11-32.99) 1,501 300 9.63 (9.13-10.15)
District of Columbia 851 170 25.00 (23.30-26.79) 180 36 5.31 (4.54-6.18) 42 8 5.79 (4.14-7.86) 31 6 4.24 (2.86-6.05) 809 162 32.72 (30.45-35.12) 149 30 5.74 (4.83-6.77)
Delaware 1,142 228 20.42 (19.20-21.70) 386 77 6.83 (6.14-7.58) 88 18 7.68 (6.16-9.47) 51 10 4.46 (3.32-5.87) 1,054 211 25.55 (23.96-27.22) 335 67 7.79 (6.94-8.71)
Florida 32,991 6,598 25.30 (25.02-25.59) 9,048 1,810 7.09 (6.93-7.24) 1,631 326 6.99 (6.66-7.34) 900 180 3.87 (3.62-4.13) 31,360 6,272 32.67 (32.29-33.05) 8,148 1,630 8.38 (8.19-8.57)
Georgia 14,863 2,973 27.29 (26.85-27.75) 3,519 704 6.46 (6.24-6.68) 975 195 6.97 (6.54-7.42) 466 93 3.35 (3.06-3.67) 13,888 2,778 35.47 (34.87-36.08) 3,053 611 7.70 (7.43-7.99)
Hawaii 1,571 314 18.82 (17.87-19.82) 382 76 4.73 (4.25-5.24) 60 12 3.62 (2.76-4.66) 38 8 2.25 (1.59-3.09) 1,511 302 24.94 (23.65-26.28) 344 69 5.72 (5.11-6.38)
Iowa 4,713 943 26.27 (25.50-27.06) 1,377 275 7.62 (7.21-8.05) 272 54 6.61 (5.85-7.45) 149 30 3.64 (3.08-4.28) 4,441 888 34.18 (33.14-35.24) 1,228 246 9.22 (8.69-9.77)
Idaho 2,374 475 25.37 (24.33-26.44) 750 150 8.01 (7.43-8.62) 126 25 5.16 (4.30-6.15) 69 14 2.84 (2.21-3.59) 2,248 450 33.50 (32.09-34.96) 681 136 10.09 (9.32-10.90)
Illinois 18,227 3,645 25.80 (25.42-26.19) 4,846 969 6.88 (6.68-7.08) 979 196 6.06 (5.69-6.45) 543 109 3.38 (3.10-3.68) 17,248 3,450 33.74 (33.23-34.26) 4,303 861 8.28 (8.03-8.54)
Indiana 7,782 1,556 21.22 (20.73-21.71) 2,603 521 7.11 (6.83-7.40) 503 101 5.71 (5.22-6.23) 310 62 3.53 (3.15-3.95) 7,279 1,456 27.45 (26.81-28.11) 2,293 459 8.55 (8.19-8.92)
Kansas 3,641 728 22.83 (22.07-23.60) 1,100 220 6.90 (6.49-7.33) 214 43 5.40 (4.70-6.18) 123 25 3.10 (2.58-3.70) 3,427 685 29.84 (28.81-30.88) 977 195 8.43 (7.89-8.99)
Kentucky 7,374 1,475 29.67 (28.98-30.38) 2,002 400 8.05 (7.69-8.42) 458 92 8.14 (7.41-8.92) 250 50 4.45 (3.91-5.04) 6,916 1,383 38.33 (37.41-39.27) 1,752 350 9.49 (9.04-9.96)
Louisiana 6,620 1,324 25.94 (25.31-26.59) 1,625 325 6.38 (6.06-6.70) 384 77 6.32 (5.70-6.98) 215 43 3.51 (3.06-4.01) 6,236 1,247 33.84 (32.98-34.71) 1,410 282 7.53 (7.13-7.95)
Massachusetts 8,250 1,650 21.01 (20.54-21.48) 2,972 594 7.62 (7.34-7.91) 450 90 5.65 (5.14-6.20) 263 53 3.36 (2.97-3.80) 7,800 1,560 27.19 (26.57-27.82) 2,709 542 9.33 (8.97-9.70)
Maryland 8,206 1,641 24.45 (23.91-25.00) 2,232 446 6.73 (6.44-7.02) 429 86 5.72 (5.19-6.29) 237 47 3.17 (2.78-3.60) 7,777 1,555 31.98 (31.26-32.72) 1,995 399 8.16 (7.79-8.53)
Maine 1,574 315 19.05 (18.05-20.08) 689 138 8.28 (7.63-8.97) 98 20 6.84 (5.55-8.35) 68 14 4.83 (3.75-6.13) 1,476 295 23.96 (22.67-25.29) 621 124 9.66 (8.88-10.50)
Michigan 12,392 2,478 21.51 (21.12-21.91) 3,976 795 6.93 (6.71-7.16) 591 118 4.82 (4.44-5.22) 373 75 3.07 (2.76-3.40) 11,801 2,360 28.22 (27.69-28.76) 3,603 721 8.49 (8.20-8.78)
Minnesota 6,723 1,345 21.73 (21.20-22.28) 2,334 467 7.62 (7.30-7.94) 459 92 6.38 (5.81-6.99) 259 52 3.59 (3.17-4.05) 6,264 1,253 27.91 (27.20-28.63) 2,075 415 9.24 (8.83-9.66)
Missouri 8,544 1,709 24.59 (24.06-25.14) 2,539 508 7.35 (7.06-7.65) 484 97 6.29 (5.75-6.88) 308 62 4.01 (3.57-4.48) 8,060 1,612 31.95 (31.24-32.68) 2,231 446 8.69 (8.33-9.08)
Mississippi 3,766 753 22.81 (22.06-23.57) 1,034 207 6.31 (5.93-6.72) 217 43 5.45 (4.75-6.22) 133 27 3.35 (2.80-3.97) 3,549 710 29.79 (28.79-30.81) 901 180 7.51 (7.01-8.03)
Montana 1,593 319 25.65 (24.34-27.02) 501 100 8.02 (7.29-8.79) 70 14 5.52 (4.30-6.97) 41 8 3.23 (2.32-4.38) 1,523 305 33.75 (31.99-35.59) 460 92 9.94 (9.01-10.95)
North Carolina 14,618 2,924 25.37 (24.95-25.79) 3,947 789 6.92 (6.70-7.14) 759 152 5.88 (5.47-6.31) 456 91 3.56 (3.24-3.90) 13,859 2,772 33.21 (32.65-33.78) 3,491 698 8.27 (7.99-8.55)
North Dakota 841 168 21.01 (19.57-22.54) 258 52 6.32 (5.55-7.17) 62 12 6.16 (4.72-7.90) 36 7 3.51 (2.46-4.87) 779 156 26.99 (25.05-29.03) 222 44 7.46 (6.47-8.54)
Nebraska 2,243 449 21.71 (20.80-22.66) 805 161 7.76 (7.22-8.32) 184 37 6.99 (6.01-8.07) 105 21 3.96 (3.24-4.80) 2,059 412 27.64 (26.42-28.90) 700 140 9.28 (8.59-10.02)
New Hampshire 1,977 395 24.28 (23.16-25.43) 652 130 8.05 (7.41-8.74) 107 21 7.08 (5.80-8.57) 66 13 4.46 (3.44-5.68) 1,870 374 31.19 (29.73-32.71) 586 117 9.50 (8.71-10.34)
New Jersey 14,083 2,817 27.89 (27.42-28.37) 3,745 749 7.45 (7.21-7.70) 756 151 6.93 (6.45-7.44) 405 81 3.73 (3.38-4.12) 13,327 2,665 36.32 (35.69-36.96) 3,340 668 8.95 (8.64-9.27)
New Mexico 2,067 413 17.45 (16.67-18.24) 713 143 5.90 (5.46-6.37) 121 24 4.47 (3.70-5.34) 67 13 2.49 (1.93-3.16) 1,946 389 22.67 (21.63-23.74) 646 129 7.27 (6.70-7.88)
Nevadad 2,190 730 22.75 (21.79-23.75) 687 229 7.06 (6.53-7.63) 133 44 6.02 (5.04-7.13) 86 29 3.87 (3.09-4.78) 2,057 656 29.48 (28.19-30.82) 601 200 8.35 (7.68-9.06)
New York 32,321 6,464 29.16 (28.83-29.49) 7,906 1,581 7.20 (7.03-7.36) 1,859 372 8.05 (7.69-8.42) 907 181 3.94 (3.69-4.21) 30,462 6,092 37.65 (37.22-38.09) 6,999 1,400 8.51 (8.30-8.71)
Ohio 13,994 2,799 21.06 (20.70-21.43) 5,056 1,011 7.63 (7.41-7.85) 1,016 203 6.95 (6.53-7.40) 603 121 4.14 (3.82-4.49) 12,978 2,596 26.74 (26.26-27.22) 4,453 891 9.03 (8.76-9.31)
Oklahoma 4,567 913 21.26 (20.64-21.90) 1,511 302 6.98 (6.63-7.35) 291 58 5.48 (4.87-6.15) 178 36 3.34 (2.87-3.87) 4,276 855 27.61 (26.77-28.48) 1,333 267 8.45 (7.99-8.92)
Oregon 4,861 972 20.49 (19.90-21.10) 1,703 341 7.21 (6.86-7.57) 284 57 5.87 (5.21-6.60) 177 35 3.66 (3.14-4.24) 4,577 915 26.37 (25.59-27.17) 1,526 305 8.63 (8.19-9.09)
Pennsylvania 20,292 4,058 26.53 (26.15-26.92) 5,795 1,159 7.66 (7.45-7.87) 992 198 6.56 (6.16-6.98) 602 120 4.03 (3.72-4.37) 19,300 3,860 34.57 (34.06-35.08) 5,193 1,039 9.12 (8.86-9.38)
Rhode Island 1,144 229 18.59 (17.48-19.75) 452 90 7.30 (6.61-8.03) 64 13 5.31 (4.08-6.79) 40 8 3.41 (2.44-4.65) 1,080 216 23.93 (22.47-25.47) 412 82 8.86 (7.99-9.79)
South Carolina 6,463 1,293 22.08 (21.53-22.65) 1,990 398 6.78 (6.48-7.10) 353 71 5.70 (5.12-6.32) 205 41 3.32 (2.88-3.81) 6,110 1,222 28.67 (27.93-29.43) 1,785 357 8.18 (7.79-8.58)
South Dakota 1,082 216 22.36 (20.99-23.79) 312 62 6.48 (5.76-7.28) 39 8 3.31 (2.35-4.52) 25 5 2.10 (1.36-3.10) 1,043 209 30.02 (28.15-31.98) 287 57 8.25 (7.28-9.30)
Tennessee 9,174 1,835 24.21 (23.70-24.72) 2,632 526 6.96 (6.69-7.24) 464 93 5.55 (5.06-6.08) 276 55 3.30 (2.93-3.72) 8,710 1,742 31.71 (31.03-32.40) 2,356 471 8.43 (8.09-8.79)
Texas 37,517 7,503 26.73 (26.46-27.01) 9,593 1,919 6.74 (6.60-6.88) 2,613 523 6.44 (6.19-6.69) 1,380 276 3.39 (3.21-3.57) 34,904 6,981 34.89 (34.52-35.27) 8,213 1,643 8.09 (7.91-8.27)
Utah 6,114 1,223 44.14 (43.03-45.28) 1,092 218 7.55 (7.10-8.02) 340 68 6.74 (6.04-7.50) 171 34 3.35 (2.87-3.89) 5,774 1,155 59.19 (57.65-60.76) 921 184 9.23 (8.64-9.86)
Virginia 9,257 1,851 19.73 (19.32-20.15) 3,010 602 6.45 (6.22-6.69) 541 108 5.17 (4.74-5.62) 346 69 3.31 (2.97-3.68) 8,716 1,743 25.59 (25.04-26.14) 2,664 533 7.71 (7.42-8.02)
Vermont 945 189 24.84 (23.18-26.59) 280 56 7.55 (6.63-8.55) 45 9 6.64 (4.83-8.90) 24 5 3.74 (2.39-5.56) 900 180 32.16 (29.97-34.47) 256 51 9.08 (7.94-10.34)
Washington 13,542 2,708 33.38 (32.80-33.96) 3,191 638 7.88 (7.60-8.16) 689 138 7.61 (7.05-8.20) 387 77 4.24 (3.83-4.69) 12,853 2,571 43.75 (42.97-44.53) 2,804 561 9.34 (8.99-9.70)
Wisconsin 9,315 1,863 28.00 (27.41-28.60) 2,547 509 7.65 (7.35-7.97) 440 88 6.12 (5.56-6.72) 269 54 3.77 (3.33-4.25) 8,875 1,775 36.80 (36.01-37.61) 2,278 456 9.21 (8.83-9.61)
West Virginia 2,834 567 25.90 (24.90-26.92) 821 164 7.50 (6.97-8.06) 149 30 7.19 (6.08-8.44) 80 16 3.90 (3.09-4.85) 2,685 537 33.42 (32.11-34.78) 741 148 8.95 (8.28-9.65)
Wyoming 708 142 22.02 (20.37-23.77) 227 45 7.06 (6.14-8.08) 36 7 4.80 (3.36-6.64) 19 4 2.52 (1.52-3.93) 672 134 28.95 (26.72-31.31) 208 42 8.89 (7.68-10.24)
TOTAL 445,792 89,158 24.71 (24.63-24.78) 126,345 25,269 7.02 (6.98-7.06) 25,339 5,068 6.20 (6.12-6.27) 14,263 2,853 3.50 (3.44-3.56) 420,453 84,091 32.15 (32.05-32.25) 112,082 22,416 8.44 (8.39-8.49)

With the exception of Nevada, where total cases represent three years of diagnoses (2015, 2016, 2017).

Annual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five, with the exception of Nevada where annual average cases are obtained by dividing total by three.

Rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

Data not available for diagnosis years 2018-2019.

-- Counts are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category, or where the inclusion of the count and rate would allow for back-calculation of suppressed values. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for Totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; CI, confidence interval; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • There was less variation by region for malignant tumor incidence rates (Figure 23A) compared to incidence rates for non-malignant tumors (Figure 23B). CCR and regional variations likely reflect differences in reporting and case ascertainment practices.

  • The overall AAAIRs of all tumors (malignant and non-malignant) for each individual CCR ranged from 17.45 to 44.14 per 100,000 population. Please see Supplementary Figure 2 for combined incidence of malignant and non-malignant tumors by CCR.

  • AAAIRs of all primary malignant tumors ranged from 4.73 to 8.28 per 100,000 population.

  • Among adults 20 years of age and older, CCR-specific incidence rates ranged from 5.74 to 10.09 per 100,000 population for malignant tumors.

  • In persons less than 20 years of age, incidence rates ranged from 2.09 to 4.83 per 100,000 population for malignant tumors.

Distribution by Histopathology, WHO Grade, Diagnostic Confirmation, and Treatment Completeness

The distribution of reported tumors with histopathologically-confirmed diagnosis from 2015 to 2019 is listed by histopathology and reported WHO grade in Table 9.

  • Overall, 65.7% of tumors had complete WHO grade information, but there was substantial variation by histopathology.

  • The histopathologic types with the highest WHO grade completeness were anaplastic astrocytoma (94.1%), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (93.6%), and oligodendroglioma (92.4%).

Distribution of Tumors in Puerto Rico

The distribution of brain and other CNS tumors diagnosed among residents of Puerto Rico by histopathology is shown in Supplementary Figure 3.

  • Approximately 40.2% of tumors were malignant and 59.8% were non-malignant. The most common histopathologies were non-malignant meningioma (27%), followed by glioblastoma (18.3%).

Distributions and Incidence by Sex

Distribution by Sex and Behavior

  • Overall, 41.3% of all tumors diagnosed between 2015 and 2019 occurred in males (184,168 tumors) and 58.7% in females (261,624 tumors) (Table 8).

  • Approximately 55.8% of the malignant tumors occurred in males (70,459 tumors between 2015 and 2019) and 44.2% in females (55,886 tumors between 2015 and 2019).

  • Approximately 35.6% of the non-malignant tumors occurred in males (113,709 tumors between 2015 and 2019) and 64.4% in females (205,738 tumors between 2015 and 2019).

Incidence Rates by Site and Sex

Incidence counts and average annual age-adjusted rates for brain and other CNS tumors by site and sex are shown in Table 7.

  • Incidence rates were highest for tumors located in the meninges (9.55 per 100,000 population) and lowest for olfactory tumors of the nasal cavity (0.04 per 100,000 population).

  • Incidence rates were higher in females than in males for tumors located in the cranial nerves, other nervous system, meninges, pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct, while males had higher incidence rates for tumors located in most other locations.

Incidence Rates by Sex and Histopathology

AAAIRs by sex and histopathology are shown in Table 8. Incidence rates for all primary brain and other CNS tumors combined were higher among females (27.62 per 100,000 population) than males (21.6 per 100,000 population).

  • The incidence rate of tumors of meninges was higher in females (13.28 per 100,000 population) than in males (6.0 per 100,000 population).

Incidence rate ratios (male:female) for selected histopathologies and histopathology groupings are shown in (Figure 15).

  • Incidence was higher in males for many histopathologies, such as germ cell tumors (p<0.0001), most glial tumors, lymphomas (p<0.0001), and embryonal tumors (p<0.0001).

  • In addition to non-malignant (p<0.0001) and malignant (p=0.2731) meningiomas, tumors of the pituitary (p<0.0001) were also more common in females than in males.

Incidence Rates by Sex and Histopathology in Children and Adolescents (Age 0-19 Years)

The incidence rates for brain and other CNS tumors in children and adolescents by histopathology and sex are shown in Table 15.

Table 15.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years) by Histopathology and Sex, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Total Male Female
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 2,102 420 0.51 (0.49-0.54) 1,153 231 0.55 (0.52-0.58) 949 190 0.47 (0.44-0.51)
Diffuse astrocytoma 878 176 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 475 95 0.23 (0.21-0.25) 403 81 0.20 (0.18-0.22)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 332 66 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 188 38 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 144 29 0.07 (0.06-0.08)
Glioblastoma 695 139 0.17 (0.16-0.18) 389 78 0.19 (0.17-0.21) 306 61 0.15 (0.14-0.17)
Oligodendroglioma 145 29 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 71 14 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 74 15 0.04 (0.03-0.05)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 16 3 0.00 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors 36 7 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 4,382 876 1.08 (1.04-1.11) 2,308 462 1.11 (1.06-1.15) 2,074 415 1.04 (1.00-1.09)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 3,885 777 0.95 (0.92-0.98) 2,033 407 0.98 (0.93-1.02) 1,852 370 0.93 (0.89-0.97)
Unique astrocytoma variants 497 99 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 275 55 0.13 (0.12-0.15) 222 44 0.11 (0.10-0.13)
Malignant 230 46 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 114 23 0.05 (0.05-0.07) 116 23 0.06 (0.05-0.07)
Non-Malignant 267 53 0.07 (0.06-0.07) 161 32 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 106 21 0.05 (0.04-0.06)
Ependymal Tumors 1,185 237 0.29 (0.27-0.31) 683 137 0.33 (0.30-0.35) 502 100 0.25 (0.23-0.27)
Malignant 966 193 0.24 (0.22-0.25) 548 110 0.26 (0.24-0.29) 418 84 0.21 (0.19-0.23)
Non-Malignant 219 44 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 135 27 0.06 (0.05-0.08) 84 17 0.04 (0.03-0.05)
Other Gliomas 3,188 638 0.78 (0.76-0.81) 1,577 315 0.76 (0.72-0.80) 1,611 322 0.81 (0.77-0.85)
Glioma malignant, NOS 3,160 632 0.78 (0.75-0.80) -- -- -- -- -- --
Other neuroepithelial tumors 28 6 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 2,090 418 0.51 (0.49-0.53) 1,187 237 0.57 (0.54-0.60) 903 181 0.45 (0.42-0.48)
Malignant 120 24 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 60 12 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 60 12 0.03 (0.02-0.04)
Non-Malignant 1,970 394 0.48 (0.46-0.50) 1,127 225 0.54 (0.51-0.57) 843 169 0.42 (0.39-0.45)
Choroid Plexus Tumors 407 81 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 235 47 0.11 (0.10-0.13) 172 34 0.09 (0.07-0.10)
Malignant 98 20 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 63 13 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 35 7 0.02 (0.01-0.02)
Non-Malignant 309 62 0.08 (0.07-0.08) 172 34 0.08 (0.07-0.10) 137 27 0.07 (0.06-0.08)
Tumors of the Pineal Region 215 43 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 100 20 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 115 23 0.06 (0.05-0.07)
Malignant 179 36 0.04 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 36 7 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Embryonal Tumors 2,338 468 0.58 (0.55-0.60) 1,406 281 0.68 (0.64-0.71) 932 186 0.47 (0.44-0.50)
Medulloblastoma 1,626 325 0.40 (0.38-0.42) 1,047 209 0.50 (0.47-0.54) 579 116 0.29 (0.27-0.32)
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 372 74 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 191 38 0.09 (0.08-0.11) 181 36 0.09 (0.08-0.11)
All other embryonal 340 68 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 168 34 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 172 34 0.09 (0.07-0.10)
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 1,173 235 0.29 (0.27-0.30) 622 124 0.30 (0.27-0.32) 551 110 0.27 (0.25-0.30)
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 1,252 250 0.30 (0.29-0.32) 610 122 0.29 (0.27-0.31) 642 128 0.32 (0.30-0.35)
Meningiomas 671 134 0.16 (0.15-0.18) 313 63 0.15 (0.13-0.17) 358 72 0.18 (0.16-0.20)
Malignant 21 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 650 130 0.16 (0.15-0.17) -- -- -- -- -- --
Mesenchymal tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 133 27 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 75 15 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 58 12 0.03 (0.02-0.04)
Lymphoma -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 863 173 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 595 119 0.28 (0.26-0.31) 268 54 0.13 (0.12-0.15)
Malignant 770 154 0.19 (0.18-0.20) 536 107 0.26 (0.23-0.28) 234 47 0.12 (0.10-0.13)
Non-Malignant 93 19 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 59 12 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 34 7 0.02 (0.01-0.02)
Tumors of Sellar Region 4,530 906 1.10 (1.07-1.13) 1,406 281 0.67 (0.64-0.71) 3,124 625 1.55 (1.49-1.60)
Tumors of the pituitary 3,723 745 0.90 (0.87-0.93) 954 191 0.45 (0.43-0.48) 2,769 554 1.37 (1.32-1.42)
Craniopharyngioma 807 161 0.20 (0.18-0.21) 452 90 0.22 (0.20-0.24) 355 71 0.18 (0.16-0.20)
Unclassified Tumors 1,481 296 0.36 (0.34-0.38) 779 156 0.37 (0.35-0.40) 702 140 0.35 (0.33-0.38)
Hemangioma 486 97 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 260 52 0.12 (0.11-0.14) 226 45 0.11 (0.10-0.13)
Neoplasm, unspecified 811 162 0.20 (0.19-0.21) 422 84 0.20 (0.18-0.22) 389 78 0.19 (0.18-0.21)
Malignant 213 43 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 114 23 0.05 (0.05-0.07) 99 20 0.05 (0.04-0.06)
Non-Malignant 598 120 0.15 (0.13-0.16) 308 62 0.15 (0.13-0.17) 290 58 0.14 (0.13-0.16)
All other 184 37 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 97 19 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 87 17 0.04 (0.03-0.05)
Malignant 40 8 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 19 4 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 21 4 0.01 (0.01-0.02)
Non-Malignant 144 29 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 78 16 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 66 13 0.03 (0.03-0.04)
TOTAL c 25,339 5,068 6.20 (6.12-6.27) 12,736 2,547 6.10 (6.00-6.21) 12,603 2,521 6.29 (6.18-6.40)
Malignant 14,385 2,877 3.53 (3.47-3.59) 7,854 1,571 3.77 (3.69-3.85) 6,531 1,306 3.28 (3.20-3.36)
Non-Malignant 10,954 2,191 2.67 (2.62-2.72) 4,882 976 2.33 (2.27-2.40) 6,072 1,214 3.02 (2.94-3.09)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

  • AAAIRs were highest for other astrocytic tumors (1.08 per 100,000) and tumors of the sellar region (1.10 per 100,000). Among these tumors, the most common histopathologies were pilocytic astrocytoma (0.95 per 100,000) and tumors of the pituitary (0.90 per 100,000).

  • There were notable differences in incidence rates between males and females for neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors, embryonal tumors, germ cell tumors, and tumors of the sellar region.

Incidence Rates by Race, Ethnicity, and Histopathology

Incidence rates by race and histopathology are shown in Table 16, and for children and adolescents ages 0-19 years in Table 17.

Table 16.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology and Racec, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology White Black American Indian/Alaska Native Asian or Pacific Islander
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 74,935 14,987 4.92 (4.89-4.96) 5,369 1,074 2.45 (2.38-2.52) 439 88 2.15 (1.95-2.37) 1,799 360 1.72 (1.64-1.80)
Diffuse astrocytoma 6,581 1,316 0.50 (0.49-0.51) 593 119 0.26 (0.24-0.29) 48 10 0.21 (0.16-0.29) 210 42 0.20 (0.17-0.23)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 6,245 1,249 0.46 (0.44-0.47) 462 92 0.21 (0.19-0.23) 35 7 0.16 (0.11-0.22) 174 35 0.16 (0.14-0.19)
Glioblastoma 56,771 11,354 3.55 (3.52-3.58) 3,979 796 1.82 (1.76-1.88) 294 59 1.50 (1.33-1.70) 1,240 248 1.20 (1.13-1.27)
Oligodendroglioma 3,239 648 0.26 (0.25-0.27) 210 42 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 40 8 0.18 (0.13-0.24) 88 18 0.08 (0.06-0.10)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 1,638 328 0.12 (0.12-0.13) 98 20 0.04 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- 69 14 0.06 (0.05-0.08)
Oligoastrocytic tumors 461 92 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 27 5 0.01 (0.01-0.02) -- -- -- 18 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03)
Other Astrocytic Tumors 4,994 999 0.45 (0.43-0.46) 774 155 0.33 (0.31-0.35) 60 12 0.23 (0.17-0.29) 168 34 0.17 (0.15-0.20)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 4,272 854 0.38 (0.37-0.40) 659 132 0.28 (0.26-0.30) -- -- -- 131 26 0.14 (0.11-0.16)
Unique astrocytoma variants 722 144 0.06 (0.06-0.07) 115 23 0.05 (0.04-0.06) -- -- -- 37 7 0.04 (0.03-0.05)
Non-Malignant 282 56 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 69 14 0.03 (0.02-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 440 88 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 46 9 0.02 (0.01-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- --
Ependymal Tumors 5,851 1,170 0.45 (0.44-0.46) 617 123 0.27 (0.25-0.30) 54 11 0.24 (0.18-0.31) 180 36 0.17 (0.15-0.20)
Non-Malignant 2,610 522 0.20 (0.19-0.21) 218 44 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 27 5 0.12 (0.08-0.18) 56 11 0.05 (0.04-0.07)
Malignant 3,241 648 0.25 (0.25-0.26) 399 80 0.17 (0.16-0.19) 27 5 0.11 (0.07-0.17) 124 25 0.12 (0.10-0.14)
Other Gliomas 7,230 1,446 0.56 (0.55-0.58) 1,009 202 0.45 (0.42-0.48) 64 13 0.28 (0.21-0.37) 243 49 0.25 (0.22-0.28)
Glioma malignant, NOS 7,151 1,430 0.56 (0.54-0.57) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other neuroepithelial tumors 79 16 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 34 7 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 45 9 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 4,344 869 0.36 (0.35-0.37) 563 113 0.24 (0.22-0.27) 39 8 0.16 (0.11-0.22) 210 42 0.21 (0.18-0.24)
Non-Malignant 3,527 705 0.30 (0.29-0.31) 494 99 0.21 (0.19-0.23) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 817 163 0.06 (0.06-0.06) 69 14 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Choroid Plexus Tumors 681 136 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 78 16 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 585 117 0.05 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 96 19 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of the Pineal Region 593 119 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 114 23 0.05 (0.04-0.06) -- -- -- 30 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04)
Non-Malignant 247 49 0.02 (0.02-0.02) 35 7 0.02 (0.01-0.02) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 346 69 0.03 (0.03-0.03) 79 16 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Embryonal Tumors 2,515 503 0.23 (0.22-0.24) 370 74 0.15 (0.14-0.17) 36 7 0.14 (0.10-0.20) 122 24 0.13 (0.11-0.16)
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 31,292 6,258 2.15 (2.13-2.17) 2,316 463 1.05 (1.01-1.09) 242 48 1.14 (1.00-1.30) 1,918 384 1.78 (1.70-1.87)
Nerve sheath tumors 31,263 6,253 2.15 (2.12-2.17) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 31,087 6,217 2.14 (2.11-2.16) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 176 35 0.01 (0.01-0.02) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves 29 6 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 148,601 29,720 9.62 (9.57-9.67) 23,645 4,729 11.43 (11.28-11.58) 1,139 228 6.18 (5.81-6.57) 7,002 1,400 7.01 (6.84-7.18)
Meningiomas 143,767 28,753 9.27 (9.22-9.32) 22,960 4,592 11.12 (10.97-11.27) 1,096 219 5.98 (5.61-6.37) 6,796 1,359 6.81 (6.65-6.98)
Non-Malignant 142,513 28,503 9.19 (9.14-9.24) 22,727 4,545 11.01 (10.86-11.16) -- -- -- 6,710 1,342 6.72 (6.56-6.89)
Malignant 1,254 251 0.08 (0.08-0.09) 233 47 0.11 (0.10-0.13) -- -- -- 86 17 0.09 (0.07-0.11)
Mesenchymal tumors 4,712 942 0.35 (0.34-0.36) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 4,083 817 0.30 (0.29-0.31) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 629 126 0.05 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions 122 24 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 47 9 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 75 15 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 7,117 1,423 0.45 (0.44-0.46) 681 136 0.32 (0.29-0.34) 56 11 0.30 (0.23-0.40) 479 96 0.47 (0.43-0.51)
Lymphoma 7,085 1,417 0.45 (0.43-0.46) -- -- -- 56 11 0.30 (0.23-0.40) -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 32 6 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 962 192 0.09 (0.08-0.09) 149 30 0.06 (0.05-0.07) -- -- -- 109 22 0.11 (0.09-0.14)
Non-Malignant 131 26 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 17 3 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 831 166 0.07 (0.07-0.08) 132 26 0.06 (0.05-0.07) -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Sellar Region 56,950 11,390 4.22 (4.19-4.26) 16,010 3,202 7.37 (7.26-7.49) 748 150 3.51 (3.25-3.78) 3,377 675 3.18 (3.07-3.29)
Tumors of the pituitary 54,706 10,941 4.05 (4.01-4.09) 15,393 3,079 7.10 (6.98-7.21) 716 143 3.37 (3.11-3.63) 3,238 648 3.04 (2.93-3.15)
Non-Malignant 54,625 10,925 4.04 (4.01-4.08) 15,372 3,074 7.09 (6.97-7.20) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 81 16 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 21 4 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Craniopharyngioma 2,244 449 0.17 (0.16-0.18) 617 123 0.27 (0.25-0.30) 32 6 0.14 (0.10-0.20) 139 28 0.14 (0.11-0.16)
Unclassified Tumors 15,176 3,035 1.04 (1.02-1.06) 2,008 402 0.97 (0.93-1.02) 126 25 0.69 (0.57-0.83) 589 118 0.60 (0.56-0.66)
Hemangioma 3,435 687 0.26 (0.25-0.27) 447 89 0.20 (0.19-0.22) -- -- -- 175 35 0.17 (0.14-0.19)
Neoplasm, unspecified 11,309 2,262 0.75 (0.73-0.76) 1,496 299 0.74 (0.70-0.78) 90 18 0.53 (0.42-0.66) 395 79 0.42 (0.38-0.46)
Non-Malignant 5,566 1,113 0.38 (0.37-0.40) 912 182 0.44 (0.41-0.47) 46 9 0.26 (0.19-0.35) 208 42 0.21 (0.18-0.24)
Malignant 5,743 1,149 0.36 (0.35-0.37) 584 117 0.30 (0.27-0.33) 44 9 0.27 (0.19-0.37) 187 37 0.20 (0.18-0.24)
All other 432 86 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 65 13 0.03 (0.02-0.04) -- -- -- 19 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03)
Non-Malignant 391 78 0.03 (0.03-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 41 8 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL d 361,241 72,248 24.65 (24.56-24.73) 53,703 10,741 25.18 (24.96-25.40) 3,033 607 15.15 (14.59-15.72) 16,246 3,249 15.86 (15.61-16.11)
Malignant 109,685 21,937 7.51 (7.47-7.56) 9,759 1,952 4.43 (4.34-4.52) 755 151 3.63 (3.36-3.91) 3,398 680 3.34 (3.23-3.46)
Non-Malignant 251,556 50,311 17.13 (17.06-17.20) 43,944 8,789 20.75 (20.55-20.95) 2,278 456 11.52 (11.03-12.03) 12,848 2,570 12.51 (12.29-12.74)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cIndividuals with unknown race were excluded (N = 11,569).

dRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

Table 17.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years), Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology and Racec, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology White Black American Indian/Alaska Native Asian/Pacific Islander
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 1,677 335 0.54 (0.52-0.57) 247 49 0.36 (0.32-0.41) 19 4 0.25 (0.15-0.39) 74 15 0.29 (0.23-0.36)
Diffuse astrocytoma 706 141 0.23 (0.21-0.25) 94 19 0.14 (0.11-0.17) -- -- -- 25 5 0.10 (0.06-0.14)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 270 54 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 38 8 0.06 (0.04-0.08) -- -- -- -- -- --
Glioblastoma 539 108 0.18 (0.16-0.19) 93 19 0.14 (0.11-0.17) -- -- -- 29 6 0.11 (0.08-0.16)
Oligodendroglioma 120 24 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 3,467 693 1.13 (1.10-1.17) 558 112 0.82 (0.75-0.89) 48 10 0.63 (0.46-0.83) 111 22 0.43 (0.35-0.52)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 3,091 618 1.01 (0.98-1.05) 481 96 0.70 (0.64-0.77) -- -- -- 94 19 0.37 (0.30-0.45)
Unique astrocytoma variants 376 75 0.12 (0.11-0.14) 77 15 0.11 (0.09-0.14) -- -- -- 17 3 0.07 (0.04-0.11)
Malignant 193 39 0.06 (0.05-0.07) 51 10 0.07 (0.06-0.10) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 183 37 0.06 (0.05-0.07) 26 5 0.04 (0.03-0.06) -- -- -- -- -- --
Ependymal Tumors 938 188 0.31 (0.29-0.33) 153 31 0.22 (0.19-0.26) -- -- -- 41 8 0.16 (0.11-0.22)
Malignant 187 37 0.06 (0.05-0.07) 16 3 0.02 (0.01-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 751 150 0.24 (0.23-0.26) 137 27 0.20 (0.17-0.24) -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Gliomas 2,439 488 0.80 (0.77-0.83) 457 91 0.67 (0.61-0.74) 29 6 0.38 (0.25-0.54) 105 21 0.41 (0.33-0.49)
Glioma malignant, NOS 2,418 484 0.79 (0.76-0.82) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other neuroepithelial tumors 21 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 1,640 328 0.53 (0.51-0.56) 277 55 0.41 (0.36-0.46) 21 4 0.28 (0.17-0.42) 82 16 0.32 (0.25-0.40)
Malignant 1,540 308 0.50 (0.48-0.53) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 100 20 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Choroid Plexus Tumors 324 65 0.11 (0.09-0.12) 48 10 0.07 (0.05-0.09) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 249 50 0.08 (0.07-0.09) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 75 15 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of the Pineal Region 145 29 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 51 10 0.07 (0.06-0.10) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 29 6 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 116 23 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Embryonal Tumors 1,825 365 0.60 (0.57-0.63) 284 57 0.41 (0.37-0.47) 26 5 0.34 (0.22-0.49) 106 21 0.41 (0.34-0.50)
Medulloblastoma 1,289 258 0.42 (0.40-0.45) 170 34 0.25 (0.21-0.29) -- -- -- 75 15 0.29 (0.23-0.36)
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 280 56 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 55 11 0.08 (0.06-0.10) -- -- -- -- -- --
All other embryonal 256 51 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 59 12 0.09 (0.07-0.11) -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 915 183 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 130 26 0.19 (0.16-0.23) -- -- -- 43 9 0.17 (0.12-0.22)
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- -- 130 26 0.19 (0.16-0.23) -- -- -- 43 9 0.17 (0.12-0.22)
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 974 195 0.32 (0.30-0.34) 177 35 0.26 (0.22-0.30) -- -- -- 41 8 0.16 (0.11-0.22)
Meningiomas 520 104 0.17 (0.15-0.18) 103 21 0.15 (0.12-0.18) -- -- -- 17 3 0.07 (0.04-0.11)
Malignant 502 100 0.16 (0.15-0.18) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 18 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Mesenchymal tumors -- -- -- 74 15 0.11 (0.09-0.14) -- -- -- -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 95 19 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 16 3 0.02 (0.01-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphoma 95 19 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 16 3 0.02 (0.01-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 640 128 0.21 (0.19-0.22) 101 20 0.15 (0.12-0.18) -- -- -- 81 16 0.31 (0.25-0.39)
Malignant 68 14 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 572 114 0.19 (0.17-0.20) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Sellar Region 3,407 681 1.10 (1.06-1.13) 657 131 0.96 (0.89-1.04) 55 11 0.73 (0.55-0.95) 149 30 0.58 (0.49-0.68)
Tumors of the pituitary 2,820 564 0.90 (0.87-0.94) 518 104 0.76 (0.70-0.83) -- -- -- 114 23 0.44 (0.36-0.53)
Malignant 2,820 564 0.90 (0.87-0.94) 518 104 0.76 (0.70-0.83) -- -- -- 114 23 0.44 (0.36-0.53)
Non-Malignant -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Craniopharyngioma 587 117 0.19 (0.18-0.21) 139 28 0.20 (0.17-0.24) -- -- -- 35 7 0.14 (0.09-0.19)
Unclassified Tumors 1,170 234 0.38 (0.36-0.40) 176 35 0.26 (0.22-0.30) -- -- -- 31 6 0.12 (0.08-0.17)
Hemangioma 404 81 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 42 8 0.06 (0.04-0.08) -- -- -- -- -- --
Neoplasm, unspecified 624 125 0.20 (0.19-0.22) 104 21 0.15 (0.12-0.19) -- -- -- 16 3 0.06 (0.04-0.10)
Malignant 469 94 0.15 (0.14-0.17) 70 14 0.10 (0.08-0.13) -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 155 31 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 34 7 0.05 (0.03-0.07) -- -- -- -- -- --
All other 142 28 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 30 6 0.04 (0.03-0.06) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 116 23 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 26 5 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL d 19,656 3,931 6.39 (6.30-6.48) 3,332 666 4.89 (4.72-5.06) 257 51 3.38 (2.98-3.82) 894 179 3.47 (3.25-3.71)
Non-Malignant 8,552 1,710 2.77 (2.71-2.82) 1,473 295 2.16 (2.05-2.28) 118 24 1.56 (1.29-1.87) 367 73 1.42 (1.28-1.58)
Malignant 11,104 2,221 3.63 (3.56-3.70) 1,859 372 2.73 (2.60-2.85) 139 28 1.82 (1.53-2.15) 527 105 2.05 (1.88-2.23)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cIndividuals with unknown race were excluded (N = 1200).

dRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

  • Incidence rates for all primary brain and other CNS tumors combined were lower for people who are AIAN (15.15 per 100,000) compared to people who are White (24.65 per 100,000), Black (25.18 per 100,000), and API (15.86 per 100,000).

  • Incidence rates for non-malignant primary brain and other CNS tumors were highest in people who are Black (20.75 per 100,000) compared to people who are White (17.13 per 100,000), AIAN (11.52 per 100,000), and API (12.51 per 100,000).

  • Incidence rates for malignant primary brain and other CNS tumors were highest in people who are White (7.51 per 100,000) compared to people who are Black (4.43 per 100,000), AIAN (3.63 per 100,000), and API (3.34 per 100,000).

Incidence rate ratios (White:Black) for selected histopathologies are shown in Figure 17A.

  • Incidence rates for glioblastoma (p<0.0001), all other astrocytoma (p<0.0001), and nerve sheath tumors (p<0.0001) were approximately two times greater in people who are White than in people who are Black.

  • Incidence of oligodendroglioma was 2.65 times greater in people who are White than in people who are Black (p<0.0001).

  • Incidence rates for pilocytic astrocytoma (p<0.0001), ependymal tumors (p<0.0001), embryonal tumors (p<0.0001), lymphoma (p<0.0001), and germ cell tumors (p=0.0004) were also higher among the people who are White than people who are Black.

  • Incidence rates for non-malignant (p<0.0001) and malignant (p<0.0001) meningioma and tumors of the pituitary (p<0.0001) were higher among people who are Black than people who are White.

Incidence rate ratios (White:API) for selected histopathologies are shown in Figure 17B.

  • Incidence rates for glioblastoma (p<0.0001) were 2.97 times greater in people who are White than in people who are API.

  • Incidence of nerve sheath tumors (p<0.0001) was approximately 1.2 times higher in people who are White than in people who are API.

  • Germ cell tumors (p<0.0001) were 0.75 times greater among people who are API than people who are White.

Incidence rates by Hispanic ethnicity and histopathology are shown in Table 18, for children and adolescents ages 0-19 years in Table 19 and Supplementary Figure 4.

Table 18.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for All Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology, Hispanic Ethnicityc, and Race, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Non-Hispanic All Hispanic White Hispanic Black Hispanic
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 76,233 15,247 4.67 (4.64-4.71) 7,779 1,556 3.49 (3.40-3.57) 7,125 1,425 3.52 (3.43-3.60) 208 42 2.00 (1.72-2.32)
Diffuse astrocytoma 6,753 1,351 0.49 (0.47-0.50) 881 176 0.34 (0.31-0.36) 795 159 0.34 (0.31-0.36) 23 5 0.16 (0.10-0.25)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 6,363 1,273 0.44 (0.43-0.45) 683 137 0.27 (0.25-0.29) 616 123 0.27 (0.25-0.29) 24 5 0.18 (0.11-0.28)
Glioblastoma 57,829 11,566 3.36 (3.33-3.39) 5,429 1,086 2.59 (2.52-2.66) 4,999 1,000 2.61 (2.54-2.69) 148 30 1.58 (1.31-1.87)
Oligodendroglioma 3,209 642 0.24 (0.24-0.25) 478 96 0.18 (0.16-0.19) 431 86 0.18 (0.16-0.20) -- -- --
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 1,617 323 0.12 (0.11-0.12) 254 51 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 233 47 0.10 (0.09-0.11) -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors 462 92 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 54 11 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 51 10 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 5,231 1,046 0.46 (0.45-0.47) 1,021 204 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 907 181 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 26 5 0.15 (0.09-0.23)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 4,494 899 0.40 (0.39-0.41) 845 169 0.25 (0.23-0.26) 748 150 0.25 (0.23-0.26) 21 4 0.12 (0.07-0.20)
Unique astrocytoma variants 737 147 0.06 (0.06-0.07) 176 35 0.06 (0.05-0.07) 159 32 0.06 (0.05-0.07) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 301 60 0.03 (0.02-0.03) 80 16 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 71 14 0.02 (0.02-0.03) -- -- --
Malignant 436 87 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 96 19 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 88 18 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- --
Ependymal Tumors 5,893 1,179 0.43 (0.42-0.44) 1,018 204 0.36 (0.34-0.39) 912 182 0.36 (0.34-0.39) 27 5 0.18 (0.11-0.28)
Non-Malignant 2,615 523 0.19 (0.18-0.19) 387 77 0.15 (0.13-0.16) 339 68 0.14 (0.13-0.16) -- -- --
Malignant 3,278 656 0.25 (0.24-0.25) 631 126 0.22 (0.20-0.24) 573 115 0.22 (0.20-0.24) -- -- --
Other Gliomas 7,598 1,520 0.57 (0.56-0.59) 1,256 251 0.45 (0.43-0.48) 1,097 219 0.44 (0.41-0.47) 57 11 0.43 (0.31-0.58)
Glioma malignant, NOS 7,519 1,504 0.57 (0.55-0.58) 1,234 247 0.44 (0.42-0.47) 1,077 215 0.43 (0.41-0.46) 57 11 0.43 (0.31-0.58)
Other neuroepithelial tumors 79 16 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 22 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 20 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 34 7 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 45 9 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 4,558 912 0.37 (0.35-0.38) 781 156 0.25 (0.23-0.27) 688 138 0.25 (0.23-0.27) 31 6 0.19 (0.12-0.27)
Non-Malignant 3,729 746 0.31 (0.30-0.32) 650 130 0.20 (0.19-0.22) 569 114 0.20 (0.18-0.22) -- -- --
Malignant 829 166 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 131 26 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 119 24 0.05 (0.04-0.06) -- -- --
Choroid Plexus Tumors 665 133 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 162 32 0.05 (0.04-0.06) 143 29 0.05 (0.04-0.06) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 578 116 0.05 (0.04-0.05) 128 26 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 114 23 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- --
Malignant 87 17 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 34 7 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 29 6 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- --
Tumors of the Pineal Region 659 132 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 110 22 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 100 20 0.04 (0.03-0.05) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 272 54 0.02 (0.02-0.02) 35 7 0.01 (0.01-0.02) 31 6 0.01 (0.01-0.02) -- -- --
Malignant 387 77 0.03 (0.03-0.03) 75 15 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 69 14 0.03 (0.02-0.03) -- -- --
Embryonal Tumors 2,453 491 0.22 (0.21-0.23) 717 143 0.21 (0.19-0.23) 651 130 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 22 4 0.10 (0.06-0.16)
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 33,525 6,705 2.15 (2.13-2.18) 3,523 705 1.45 (1.40-1.51) 3,120 624 1.42 (1.37-1.48) 96 19 0.83 (0.66-1.03)
Nerve sheath tumors 33,495 6,699 2.15 (2.13-2.18) 3,520 704 1.45 (1.40-1.50) -- -- -- 96 19 0.83 (0.66-1.03)
Non-Malignant 33,329 6,666 2.14 (2.12-2.16) 3,475 695 1.43 (1.39-1.49) -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 166 33 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 45 9 0.02 (0.01-0.02) -- -- -- -- -- --
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves 30 6 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 165,351 33,070 9.97 (9.92-10.02) 19,054 3,811 9.33 (9.20-9.47) 17,215 3,443 9.25 (9.10-9.39) 544 109 5.98 (5.45-6.54)
Meningiomas 160,230 32,046 9.62 (9.57-9.66) 18,217 3,643 9.02 (8.88-9.15) 16,462 3,292 8.93 (8.79-9.07) 532 106 5.88 (5.35-6.43)
Non-Malignant 158,843 31,769 9.53 (9.48-9.58) 17,989 3,598 8.90 (8.77-9.04) 16,250 3,250 8.81 (8.67-8.96) -- -- --
Malignant 1,387 277 0.08 (0.08-0.09) 228 46 0.11 (0.10-0.13) 212 42 0.11 (0.10-0.13) -- -- --
Mesenchymal tumors 4,989 998 0.35 (0.34-0.36) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 4,351 870 0.30 (0.29-0.31) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 638 128 0.04 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions 132 26 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 50 10 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 82 16 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 7,461 1,492 0.44 (0.43-0.45) 1,064 213 0.51 (0.48-0.55) 997 199 0.53 (0.49-0.56) 17 3 0.18 (0.10-0.29)
Lymphoma 7,427 1,485 0.44 (0.43-0.45) 1,055 211 0.51 (0.48-0.54) 989 198 0.52 (0.49-0.56) 17 3 0.18 (0.10-0.29)
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 34 7 0.00 (0.00-0.00) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 997 199 0.09 (0.08-0.09) 283 57 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 251 50 0.08 (0.07-0.09) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 137 27 0.01 (0.01-0.01) 33 7 0.01 (0.01-0.02) 30 6 0.01 (0.01-0.02) -- -- --
Malignant 860 172 0.08 (0.07-0.08) 250 50 0.07 (0.06-0.08) 221 44 0.07 (0.06-0.08) -- -- --
Tumors of Sellar Region 66,389 13,278 4.58 (4.55-4.62) 13,607 2,721 5.33 (5.24-5.43) 12,037 2,407 5.23 (5.14-5.33) 486 97 3.85 (3.49-4.24)
Tumors of the pituitary 63,773 12,755 4.39 (4.35-4.43) 13,090 2,618 5.15 (5.06-5.24) 11,579 2,316 5.05 (4.96-5.15) 462 92 3.71 (3.35-4.09)
Non-Malignant 63,682 12,736 4.38 (4.35-4.42) 13,073 2,615 5.14 (5.05-5.23) -- -- -- 462 92 3.71 (3.35-4.09)
Malignant 91 18 0.01 (0.00-0.01) 17 3 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- --
Craniopharyngioma 2,616 523 0.19 (0.18-0.20) 517 103 0.18 (0.17-0.20) 458 92 0.18 (0.16-0.20) 24 5 0.14 (0.09-0.22)
Unclassified Tumors 15,998 3,200 1.03 (1.01-1.04) 2,406 481 1.08 (1.03-1.13) 2,159 432 1.07 (1.03-1.12) 60 12 0.56 (0.41-0.74)
Hemangioma 3,525 705 0.25 (0.24-0.26) 690 138 0.26 (0.24-0.28) 620 124 0.26 (0.24-0.29) 22 4 0.16 (0.10-0.25)
Neoplasm, unspecified 12,045 2,409 0.75 (0.73-0.76) 1,602 320 0.77 (0.73-0.81) 1,434 287 0.77 (0.72-0.81) 37 7 0.39 (0.27-0.56)
Non-Malignant 5,999 1,200 0.39 (0.38-0.40) 955 191 0.42 (0.39-0.45) 834 167 0.40 (0.38-0.43) 26 5 0.29 (0.18-0.44)
Malignant 6,046 1,209 0.36 (0.35-0.37) 647 129 0.36 (0.33-0.39) 600 120 0.36 (0.33-0.39) -- -- --
All other 428 86 0.03 (0.03-0.04) 114 23 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 105 21 0.04 (0.04-0.05) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 379 76 0.03 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 49 10 0.00 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL d 393,011 78,602 25.09 (25.01-25.17) 52,781 10,556 22.95 (22.74-23.16) 47,402 9,480 22.76 (22.55-22.98) 1,591 318 14.55 (13.77-15.35)
Malignant 112,404 22,481 7.25 (7.21-7.30) 13,941 2,788 5.85 (5.75-5.96) 12,699 2,540 5.91 (5.80-6.02) 380 76 3.23 (2.87-3.61)
Non-Malignant d 280,607 56,121 17.84 (17.77-17.90) 38,840 7,768 17.09 (16.92-17.27) 34,703 6,941 16.86 (16.67-17.04) 1,211 242 11.32 (10.63-12.03)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cHispanic ethnicity is not mutually exclusive of race; Classified using the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Hispanic Identification Algorithm, version 2 (NHIA v2).

dRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

Table 19.

Five-Year Total, Annual Average Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesb with 95% Confidence Intervals for Children and Adolescents (Ages 0-19 Years), Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Histopathology, Hispanic Ethnicityc, and Race, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

Histopathology Non-Hispanic All Hispanic White Hispanic Black Hispanic
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors 1,730 346 0.56 (0.53-0.59) 372 74 0.37 (0.33-0.41) 333 67 0.37 (0.33-0.42) -- -- --
Diffuse astrocytoma 736 147 0.24 (0.22-0.26) 142 28 0.14 (0.12-0.17) 125 25 0.14 (0.12-0.17) -- -- --
Anaplastic astrocytoma 271 54 0.09 (0.08-0.10) 61 12 0.06 (0.05-0.08) 55 11 0.06 (0.05-0.08) -- -- --
Glioblastoma 551 110 0.18 (0.16-0.19) 144 29 0.14 (0.12-0.17) 129 26 0.14 (0.12-0.17) -- -- --
Oligodendroglioma 129 26 0.04 (0.03-0.05) 16 3 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 16 3 0.02 (0.01-0.03) -- -- --
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Oligoastrocytic tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 3,611 722 1.18 (1.14-1.22) 771 154 0.75 (0.70-0.81) 689 138 0.76 (0.71-0.82) 16 3 0.26 (0.15-0.42)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 3,219 644 1.05 (1.02-1.09) 666 133 0.65 (0.60-0.70) 596 119 0.66 (0.61-0.71) -- -- --
Unique astrocytoma variants 392 78 0.13 (0.12-0.14) 105 21 0.10 (0.08-0.13) 93 19 0.10 (0.08-0.13) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 207 41 0.07 (0.06-0.08) 60 12 0.06 (0.04-0.08) 52 10 0.06 (0.04-0.08) -- -- --
Malignant 185 37 0.06 (0.05-0.07) 45 9 0.05 (0.03-0.06) 41 8 0.05 (0.03-0.06) -- -- --
Ependymal Tumors 912 182 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 273 55 0.27 (0.24-0.30) 248 50 0.28 (0.24-0.31) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 170 34 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 49 10 0.05 (0.04-0.07) 43 9 0.05 (0.04-0.07) -- -- --
Malignant 742 148 0.24 (0.23-0.26) 224 45 0.22 (0.19-0.25) 205 41 0.23 (0.20-0.26) -- -- --
Other Gliomas 2,576 515 0.84 (0.81-0.88) 612 122 0.60 (0.55-0.65) 530 106 0.59 (0.54-0.64) 31 6 0.48 (0.33-0.69)
Glioma malignant, NOS 2,556 511 0.84 (0.81-0.87) -- -- -- -- -- -- 31 6 0.48 (0.33-0.69)
Other neuroepithelial tumors 20 4 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 1,711 342 0.55 (0.53-0.58) 379 76 0.38 (0.34-0.42) 336 67 0.38 (0.34-0.42) 17 3 0.28 (0.16-0.45)
Non-Malignant 1,618 324 0.52 (0.50-0.55) 352 70 0.35 (0.31-0.39) 312 62 0.35 (0.31-0.39) 16 3 0.27 (0.15-0.43)
Malignant 93 19 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 27 5 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 24 5 0.03 (0.02-0.04) -- -- --
Choroid Plexus Tumors 310 62 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 97 19 0.09 (0.08-0.11) 85 17 0.09 (0.07-0.12) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 240 48 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 69 14 0.07 (0.05-0.09) 62 12 0.07 (0.05-0.09) -- -- --
Malignant 70 14 0.02 (0.02-0.03) 28 6 0.03 (0.02-0.04) 23 5 0.03 (0.02-0.04) -- -- --
Tumors of the Pineal Region 171 34 0.06 (0.05-0.06) 44 9 0.04 (0.03-0.06) 37 7 0.04 (0.03-0.06) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 28 6 0.01 (0.01-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 143 29 0.05 (0.04-0.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Embryonal Tumors 1,814 363 0.60 (0.57-0.63) 524 105 0.51 (0.46-0.55) 475 95 0.52 (0.48-0.57) 21 4 0.33 (0.20-0.50)
Medulloblastoma 1,268 254 0.42 (0.40-0.44) 358 72 0.35 (0.31-0.39) 325 65 0.36 (0.32-0.40) -- -- --
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor 291 58 0.10 (0.09-0.11) 81 16 0.08 (0.06-0.10) 76 15 0.08 (0.07-0.10) -- -- --
All other embryonal 255 51 0.08 (0.07-0.09) 85 17 0.08 (0.07-0.10) 74 15 0.08 (0.06-0.10) -- -- --
Tumors of Cranial and Spinal Nerves 928 186 0.30 (0.28-0.32) 245 49 0.24 (0.21-0.28) 208 42 0.23 (0.20-0.27) -- -- --
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 954 191 0.31 (0.29-0.33) 298 60 0.30 (0.27-0.33) 274 55 0.31 (0.27-0.35) -- -- --
Meningiomas 525 105 0.17 (0.15-0.18) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Non-Malignant 508 102 0.16 (0.15-0.18) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 17 3 0.01 (0.00-0.01) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Mesenchymal tumors -- -- -- 151 30 0.15 (0.13-0.18) 140 28 0.16 (0.13-0.19) -- -- --
Non-Malignant -- -- -- 129 26 0.13 (0.11-0.15) 118 24 0.13 (0.11-0.16) -- -- --
Malignant -- -- -- 22 4 0.02 (0.01-0.03) 22 4 0.02 (0.02-0.04) -- -- --
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms 108 22 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 25 5 0.02 (0.02-0.04) 22 4 0.02 (0.02-0.04) -- -- --
Lymphoma 108 22 0.04 (0.03-0.04) 25 5 0.02 (0.02-0.04) 22 4 0.02 (0.02-0.04) -- -- --
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors 658 132 0.21 (0.20-0.23) 205 41 0.20 (0.18-0.23) 185 37 0.21 (0.18-0.24) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 78 16 0.03 (0.02-0.03) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 580 116 0.19 (0.17-0.20) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Tumors of Sellar Region 3,226 645 1.03 (0.99-1.06) 1,304 261 1.32 (1.25-1.40) 1,145 229 1.31 (1.24-1.39) 43 9 0.72 (0.52-0.97)
Tumors of the pituitary 2,618 524 0.83 (0.80-0.86) 1,105 221 1.13 (1.06-1.20) 967 193 1.11 (1.04-1.19) -- -- --
Craniopharyngioma 608 122 0.20 (0.18-0.22) 199 40 0.20 (0.17-0.23) 178 36 0.20 (0.17-0.23) -- -- --
Unclassified Tumors 1,111 222 0.36 (0.34-0.38) 370 74 0.37 (0.33-0.41) 322 64 0.36 (0.32-0.40) -- -- --
Hemangioma 368 74 0.12 (0.11-0.13) 118 24 0.12 (0.10-0.14) 106 21 0.12 (0.10-0.14) -- -- --
Neoplasm, unspecified 610 122 0.20 (0.18-0.21) 201 40 0.20 (0.17-0.23) 169 34 0.19 (0.16-0.22) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 443 89 0.14 (0.13-0.16) 155 31 0.15 (0.13-0.18) 129 26 0.15 (0.12-0.17) -- -- --
Malignant 167 33 0.05 (0.05-0.06) 46 9 0.05 (0.03-0.06) 40 8 0.04 (0.03-0.06) -- -- --
All other 133 27 0.04 (0.04-0.05) 51 10 0.05 (0.04-0.07) 47 9 0.05 (0.04-0.07) -- -- --
Non-Malignant 98 20 0.03 (0.03-0.04) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Malignant 35 7 0.01 (0.01-0.02) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TOTAL d 19,820 3,964 6.44 (6.35-6.53) 5,519 1,104 5.47 (5.33-5.62) 4,889 978 5.48 (5.33-5.64) 182 36 2.94 (2.53-3.40)
Non-Malignant 8,379 1,676 2.70 (2.64-2.76 2,697 539 2.71 (2.61-2.81) 2,373 475 2.69 (2.58-2.80) 83 17 1.39 (1.10-1.72)
Malignant 11,441 2,288 3.74 (3.67-3.81) 2,822 564 2.76 (2.66-2.86) 2,516 503 2.79 (2.68-2.90) 99 20 1.55 (1.26-1.89)

aAnnual average cases are calculated by dividing the five-year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

cHispanic ethnicity is not mutually exclusive of race; Classified using the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Hispanic Identification Algorithm, version 2 (NHIA v2).

dRefers to all brain tumors including histopathologies not presented in this table.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified.

  • The overall incidence rate for primary brain and other CNS tumors was 22.95 per 100,000 population among people who are Hispanic and 25.09 per 100,000 population among people who are non-Hispanic.

  • Lymphomas and other hematopoietic neoplasms and tumors of the sellar region were the only histopathologies that were higher in people who are Hispanic than in people who are non-Hispanic.

While there are several histopathologies where significant differences in incidence were observed by race and/or ethnicity, in most cases the actual difference in incidence rates is small and may not be biologically significant.

Incidence Rates by Histopathology and Race/Ethnicity in Children and Adolescents (Age 0-19 Years)

Table 17 shows incidence rates for brain and other CNS 
tumors by histopathology and race for children and adolescents ages 0-19 years. Incidence rates by histopathology and ethnicity for children and adolescents ages 0-19 years are shown in Table 19.

  • Incidence rates were highest among children and adolescents who are White (6.39 per 100,000) compared to children and adolescents who are Black (4.89 per 100,000 population), AIAN (3.38 per 100,000), or API (3.47 per 100,000).

  • Incidence rates were highest among children and adolescents who are non-Hispanic (6.44 per 100,000) compared to children and adolescents who are Hispanic (5.47 per 100,000).

Estimated Numbers of Expected Cases of All Primary Brain and Other CNS Tumors

Expected Cases by State

The estimated number of cases of all primary brain and other CNS tumors for 2022 and 2023 by State and Behavior are shown in Table 20. Overall total rates by states presented are based on total malignant and non-malignant incidence. Stratified rates may not add up to these totals. Estimated numbers of cases are highly dependent on input data. Different patterns of incidence within strata can substantively affect the projected estimates, and strata-specific estimates may not equal the total estimate presented. Caution should be used when utilizing these estimates.

Table 20.

Estimated Number of Casesa,b of Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Overall and by Behavior by Central Cancer Registry for Diagnosis Years 2022 and 2023

Central Cancer Registry 2022 2023
Malignant Non-Malignant Total Malignant Non-Malignant Totalc+
Alabama 410 780 1,190 410 810 1,220
Alaska 60 140 200 60 140 200
Arizona 580 1,140 1,720 590 1,160 1,750
Arkansas 270 600 870 280 620 900
California 2,930 7,580 10,510 2,960 7,800 10,770
Colorado 460 1,420 1,870 460 1,460 1,920
Connecticut 340 760 1,090 340 780 1,120
Delaware 80 160 250 90 170 250
District of Columbia -- -- 210 -- -- 220
Florida 1,910 5,140 7,050 1,930 5,270 7,200
Georgia 780 2,740 3,520 790 2,880 3,670
Hawaii 80 240 320 80 250 330
Idaho 160 380 540 160 400 560
Illinois 1,020 2,960 3,980 1,030 3,050 4,080
Indiana 550 1,060 1,610 560 1,070 1,630
Iowa 290 720 1,000 290 740 1,030
Kansas 230 570 800 230 590 820
Kentucky 450 1,180 1,630 460 1,210 1,670
Louisiana 340 1,180 1,520 350 1,220 1,570
Maine 140 180 320 140 180 320
Maryland 480 1,480 1,960 480 1,560 2,040
Massachusetts 600 1,050 1,660 610 1,080 1,690
Michigan 800 1,640 2,440 800 1,660 2,460
Minnesota 520 1,030 1,550 530 1,090 1,610
Mississippi 220 620 840 220 640 870
Missouri 540 1,260 1,790 540 1,290 1,830
Montana 110 240 350 110 250 360
Nebraska 170 310 480 170 310 490
Nevadad 260 590 850 270 610 880
New Hampshire 140 280 420 150 290 430
New Jersey 780 2,420 3,200 780 2,530 3,310
New Mexico 150 300 460 160 310 470
New York 1,590 5,250 6,830 1,590 5,400 6,990
North Carolina 880 2,480 3,360 890 2,580 3,470
North Dakota 60 130 180 60 130 190
Ohio 1,060 1,920 2,990 1,070 1,980 3,050
Oklahoma 310 750 1,070 310 780 1,100
Oregon 380 640 1,020 380 650 1,040
Pennsylvania 1,230 3,130 4,350 1,240 3,200 4,440
Rhode Island 90 120 200 90 120 200
South Carolina 450 1,030 1,480 460 1,070 1,520
South Dakota 70 190 260 70 200 270
Tennessee 580 1,450 2,030 590 1,480 2,070
Texas 2,080 6,550 8,630 2,110 6,820 8,930
Utah 250 1,390 1,640 250 1,490 1,740
Vermont 60 130 190 60 130 190
Virginia 680 1,360 2,040 690 1,400 2,090
Washington 700 2,420 3,130 720 2,530 3,240
West Virginia 160 440 600 160 460 620
Wisconsin 550 1,600 2,150 550 1,660 2,210
Wyoming 50 100 160 50 110 160
United States 26,670 66,800 93,470 26,940 67,440 94,390

aSource: Estimation based on CBTRUS, NPCR, and SEER 2000-2018 data for malignant tumors, and NPCR and SEER 2006-2018 data for non-malignant tumors.

bRounded to the nearest 10. Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

cTotal estimate is based on histopathology-specific estimate and may not add up to total by state.

dIncidence data not available for 2018-2019, these years are not used for estimation.

- Estimated number is less than 50. These cases are included in overall rates.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • The total number of new cases of primary brain and other CNS tumors for all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2022 is estimated to be 93,470, with 26,670 malignant and 66,800 non-malignant cases.

  • For 2023, the estimate is 94,390 new cases of primary brain and other CNS tumors of which 26,940 and 67,440 are expected to be malignant and non-malignant, respectively.

Expected Cases by Histopathology and Age at Diagnosis

The estimated number of cases of all primary brain and other CNS tumors for 2022 and 2023 overall and by histopathology are shown in Table 21 and including by age groups in Supplementary Table 11.

Table 21.

Estimated Number of Casesa,b in the United States of Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Overall and by Behavior and Histopathologyc for Diagnosis Years 2022 and 2023

Histopathology 2022 2023
Malignant Non-Malignant Total Malignant Non-Malignant Total
Diffuse Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors -- -- 17,760 -- -- 17,950
Diffuse astrocytoma -- -- 1,440 -- -- 1,420
Anaplastic astrocytoma -- -- 1,090 -- -- 1,020
Glioblastoma -- -- 14,190 -- -- 14,490
Oligodendroglioma -- -- 660 -- -- 650
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma -- -- 390 -- -- 390
Oligoastrocytic tumors -- -- -- -- -- --
Other Astrocytic Tumors 1,260 310 1,560 1,270 350 1,620
Pilocytic astrocytoma 1,130 220 1,340 1,130 260 1,400
Unique astrocytoma variants 130 90 220 130 90 230
Ependymal Tumors 710 680 1,390 700 690 1,390
Other Gliomas -- -- 1,990 -- -- 2,030
Glioma malignant, NOS -- 1,970 -- 2,010
Other neuroepithelial tumors -- -- -- -- -- --
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors 220 980 1,200 220 1,000 1,220
Choroid Plexus Tumors -- -- 170 -- -- 170
Tumors of the Pineal Region 110 70 180 110 70 180
Embryonal Tumors -- -- 560 -- -- 550
Tumors of Cranial and Paraspinal Nerves -- -- 6,380 -- -- 6,190
Nerve sheath tumors -- -- 6,380 -- -- 6,190
Other tumors of cranial and paraspinal nerves -- -- -- --
Tumors of Meninges 470 41,600 42,060 460 42,710 43,170
Meningiomas 280 40,820 41,110 270 41,980 42,260
Mesenchymal tumors 160 760 920 160 710 870
Primary melanocytic lesions -- -- -- -- -- --
Lymphomas and Hematopoietic Neoplasms -- -- 1,870 -- -- 1,900
Lymphoma -- -- 1,860 -- -- 1,890
Other hematopoietic neoplasms -- -- -- -- -- --
Germ Cell Tumors -- -- 260 -- -- 270
Tumors of Sellar Region -- -- 14,830 -- -- 14,560
Tumors of the pituitary -- -- 14,170 -- -- 13,900
Craniopharyngioma -- -- 650 -- -- 660
Unclassified Tumors 1,430 1,830 3,260 1,440 1,730 3,180
Hemangioma -- -- 800 -- -- 790
Neoplasm, unspecified 1,410 920 2,340 1,420 840 2,260
All other -- -- 130 -- -- 130
TOTAL 26,670 66,800 93,470 26,940 67,440 94,390

aSource: Estimation based on CBTRUS, NPCR, and SEER 2000-2018 data for malignant tumors, and NPCR and SEER 2006-2018 data for non-malignant tumors.

bRounded to the nearest 10. Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

cTotal estimate is based on overall estimate. Histopathology-specific estimates may not add up to total.

- Estimated number is less than 50 or allows for back-calculation of a value less than 50. These cases are included in overall rates.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • Meningioma was the histopathology with the highest number of all estimated new cases, with 41,110 cases projected in 2022 and 42,260 cases projected in 2023.

  • Glioblastoma was the malignant histopathology with the highest number of cases, with 14,190 cases projected in 2022 and 14,490 cases projected in 2023.

  • For 2022 and 2023, the highest number of new cases is predicted in those age 65+ years, with 44,130 cases and 45,390 cases, respectively.

  • For 2022 and 2023, children ages 0-14 years are estimated to have 3,860 and 3,920 new cases of primary brain and other CNS tumors each year, respectively.

  • For 2022 and 2023, children and adolescents ages 0-19 years are estimated to have 5,220 and 5,230 new cases of primary brain and other CNS tumors each year, respectively.

Mortality Rates for Malignant Brain and Other CNS Tumors by State and Sex

AAAMR for primary malignant brain and other CNS tumors in the United States during 2015-2019 by state and sex are shown in Table 22 and Figure 25.

Table 22.

Five-Year Total, Average Annual Totala, and Average Annual Age-Adjusted Mortality Ratesb for Malignant Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancer Overall and by State and Sex, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NCHS and NVSS, 2015-2019

State Total Male Female
5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI) 5-Year Total Annual Average Rate (95% CI)
Alabama 1,495 299 5.01 (4.76-5.28) 818 164 6.01 (5.59-6.45) 677 135 4.17 (3.86-4.51)
Alaska 157 31 4.36 (3.67-5.15) 86 17 4.48 (3.51-5.63) 71 14 4.19 (3.23-5.33)
Arizona 1,765 353 4.14 (3.94-4.34) 484 97 5.79 (5.28-6.35) 395 79 3.97 (3.58-4.40)
Arkansas 879 176 4.84 (4.52-5.18) 1,010 202 5.03 (4.72-5.36) 755 151 3.33 (3.09-3.59)
California 9,381 1,876 4.35 (4.26-4.44) 5,343 1,069 5.33 (5.18-5.47) 4,038 808 3.50 (3.39-3.61)
Colorado 1,334 267 4.31 (4.08-4.56) 744 149 5.07 (4.70-5.46) 590 118 3.65 (3.36-3.97)
Connecticut 997 199 4.47 (4.19-4.77) 566 113 5.54 (5.08-6.03) 431 86 3.62 (3.27-4.00)
Delaware 248 50 3.98 (3.48-4.53) 53 11 3.28 (2.45-4.32) 50 10 2.60 (1.91-3.45)
District of Columbia 103 21 2.90 (2.36-3.53) 151 30 5.40 (4.54-6.37) 97 19 2.80 (2.25-3.46)
Florida 5,954 1,191 4.17 (4.06-4.28) 3,370 674 5.09 (4.91-5.27) 2,584 517 3.35 (3.21-3.49)
Georgia 2,366 473 4.23 (4.06-4.41) 1,305 261 5.15 (4.86-5.45) 1,061 212 3.47 (3.26-3.69)
Hawaii 252 50 2.90 (2.54-3.29) 145 29 3.56 (2.99-4.21) 107 21 2.28 (1.85-2.78)
Idaho 509 102 5.17 (4.72-5.66) 323 65 6.83 (6.09-7.65) 186 37 3.64 (3.12-4.22)
Illinois 3,066 613 4.13 (3.98-4.28) 1,735 347 5.13 (4.88-5.38) 1,331 266 3.31 (3.13-3.50)
Indiana 1,763 353 4.55 (4.33-4.77) 1,024 205 5.70 (5.35-6.08) 739 148 3.56 (3.30-3.83)
Iowa 962 192 5.05 (4.72-5.39) 542 108 5.99 (5.48-6.54) 420 84 4.22 (3.81-4.67)
Kansas 828 166 4.93 (4.59-5.29) 471 94 5.98 (5.43-6.56) 357 71 4.01 (3.59-4.46)
Kentucky 1,293 259 4.86 (4.59-5.14) 715 143 5.79 (5.36-6.25) 578 116 4.06 (3.73-4.42)
Louisiana 1,159 232 4.33 (4.07-4.59) 645 129 5.27 (4.86-5.71) 514 103 3.53 (3.22-3.86)
Maine 488 98 5.29 (4.80-5.81) 291 58 6.71 (5.92-7.57) 197 39 4.06 (3.47-4.72)
Maryland 1,386 277 3.99 (3.78-4.21) 765 153 4.86 (4.51-5.22) 621 124 3.28 (3.02-3.56)
Massachusetts 1,968 394 4.75 (4.54-4.97) 1,109 222 5.90 (5.55-6.27) 859 172 3.80 (3.55-4.08)
Michigan 2,891 578 4.68 (4.51-4.87) 1,625 325 5.73 (5.44-6.02) 1,266 253 3.80 (3.59-4.03)
Minnesota 1,548 310 4.77 (4.53-5.02) 904 181 5.86 (5.48-6.27) 644 129 3.82 (3.52-4.14)
Mississippi 881 176 5.06 (4.73-5.42) 463 93 5.90 (5.36-6.48) 418 84 4.37 (3.95-4.83)
Missouri 1,653 331 4.42 (4.21-4.65) 928 186 5.40 (5.05-5.77) 725 145 3.60 (3.33-3.88)
Montana 332 66 4.89 (4.36-5.48) 193 39 5.87 (5.04-6.80) 139 28 3.99 (3.33-4.76)
Nebraska 554 111 5.05 (4.63-5.50) 317 63 6.06 (5.39-6.78) 237 47 4.16 (3.63-4.75)
Nevada 759 152 4.39 (4.08-4.73) 424 85 5.12 (4.63-5.65) 335 67 3.73 (3.33-4.16)
New Hampshire 421 84 4.84 (4.37-5.36) 240 48 5.88 (5.13-6.72) 181 36 4.01 (3.41-4.68)
New Jersey 2,279 456 4.24 (4.06-4.42) 1,254 251 5.12 (4.83-5.42) 1,025 205 3.50 (3.29-3.73)
New Mexico 510 102 3.96 (3.61-4.33) 281 56 4.62 (4.08-5.21) 229 46 3.39 (2.95-3.89)
New York 4,549 910 3.88 (3.77-4.00) 2,509 502 4.70 (4.52-4.90) 2,040 408 3.19 (3.05-3.34)
North Carolina 2,502 500 4.13 (3.97-4.30) 1,415 283 5.17 (4.90-5.46) 1,087 217 3.28 (3.08-3.49)
North Dakota 180 36 4.26 (3.64-4.95) 104 21 5.09 (4.13-6.20) 76 15 3.47 (2.71-4.38)
Ohio 3,348 670 4.67 (4.50-4.83) 1,878 376 5.70 (5.44-5.97) 1,470 294 3.77 (3.57-3.98)
Oklahoma 1,122 224 4.96 (4.67-5.27) 608 122 5.86 (5.39-6.36) 514 103 4.17 (3.81-4.56)
Oregon 1,202 240 4.67 (4.40-4.95) 707 141 5.74 (5.31-6.19) 495 99 3.69 (3.36-4.05)
Pennsylvania 3,740 748 4.55 (4.40-4.71) 2,170 434 5.79 (5.54-6.04) 1,570 314 3.51 (3.33-3.70)
Rhode Island 327 65 4.93 (4.39-5.51) 181 36 6.04 (5.17-7.03) 146 29 4.00 (3.36-4.74)
South Carolina 1,453 291 4.67 (4.43-4.93) 795 159 5.57 (5.17-5.98) 658 132 3.93 (3.62-4.25)
South Dakota 276 55 5.36 (4.73-6.07) 164 33 6.86 (5.82-8.03) 112 22 4.08 (3.32-4.95)
Tennessee 1,872 374 4.70 (4.49-4.93) 1,056 211 5.76 (5.41-6.13) 816 163 3.82 (3.55-4.10)
Texas 5,934 1,187 4.18 (4.07-4.29) 3,293 659 4.99 (4.82-5.17) 2,641 528 3.48 (3.35-3.62)
Utah 646 129 4.70 (4.34-5.08) 389 78 5.90 (5.32-6.53) 257 51 3.61 (3.18-4.09)
Vermont 230 46 5.68 (4.93-6.51) 126 25 6.66 (5.49-8.02) 104 21 4.80 (3.87-5.90)
Virginia 2,073 415 4.23 (4.04-4.42) 1,160 232 5.19 (4.89-5.51) 913 183 3.42 (3.20-3.66)
Washington 2,152 430 5.08 (4.86-5.30) 1,243 249 6.19 (5.84-6.55) 909 182 4.07 (3.80-4.35)
West Virginia 572 114 4.64 (4.25-5.06) 320 64 5.55 (4.93-6.22) 252 50 3.84 (3.36-4.38)
Wisconsin 1,718 344 4.84 (4.61-5.08) 1,001 200 5.97 (5.59-6.36) 717 143 3.79 (3.51-4.10)
Wyoming 187 37 5.47 (4.69-6.36) 108 22 6.63 (5.39-8.08) 79 16 4.42 (3.46-5.58)
TOTAL 84,264 16,853 4.41 (4.38-4.44) 47,551 9,510 5.38 (5.33-5.43) 36,713 7,343 3.58 (3.54-3.61)

aAnnual average deaths are calculated by dividing the five- year total by five.

bRates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

-- Counts and rates are not presented when fewer than 16 cases were reported for the specific category. The suppressed cases are included in the counts and rates for totals.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; NCHS, National Center for Health Statistics; NVSS, National Vital Statistics System.

Fig. 25.

Fig. 25

Average Annual Age-Adjusted Mortality Ratesa for Malignant Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Central Cancer Registry, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NVSS, 2015-2019

  • The aggregate total number of observed deaths was 84,264, for an average annual age-adjusted mortality rate of 4.41 per 100,000 population.

  • There was considerable variation by individual state, which ranged from a low of 2.9 deaths per 100,000 population to a high of 5.68 deaths per 100,000 population. Rates may vary by state for multiple reasons, including demographic variation and procedures for deciding primary cause of death on a death certificate.

  • Males had a higher mortality rate for malignant brain and other CNS tumors than females in the US population, with 5.38 per 100,000 population as compared to 3.58 per 100,000 population.

Overall Survival and Relative Survival

Estimates of median survival in months by histopathology and age group for all individuals diagnosed with primary malignant brain and other CNS tumors irrespective of whether individuals received any treatment for their tumor are shown in Table 23. Survival curves for the most common histopathologies are shown by age group in Figure 26A.

Table 23.

Sixteen-Year Total Deaths and Median Survival in Months with 95% Confidence Intervals for Selected Primary Malignant Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NPCR, 2001-201877

Histopathology N Deaths Median Survival (95% CI)
Diffuse astrocytoma 25,047 13,802 61 (58-63)
Anaplastic astrocytoma 17,821 12,453 20 (20-21)
Glioblastoma 145,178 129,570 8 (8-8)
Oligodendroglioma 11,989 3,722 199 (190-209)
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 5,351 2,532 103 (96-110)
Oligoastrocytic tumors 6,941 3,503 113 (107-120)
Pilocytic astrocytoma 15,813 1,197 ** (**-**)
Unique astrocytoma variants 2,463 420 ** (**-**)
Ependymal tumors 18,710 3,277 ** (**-**)
Glioma malignant, NOS 20,825 9,875 96 (87-106)
Other neuroepithelial tumors 2,274 338 ** (**-**)
Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors 283 83 ** (201-**)
Choroid plexus tumors 12,602 1,559 ** (**-**)
Tumors of the pineal region 1,979 506 ** (**-**)
Embryonal tumors 10,715 4,194 ** (**-**)
Nerve sheath tumors 87,503 8,450 ** (**-**)
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves -- -- --
Meningiomas 382,599 107,072 185 (180-188)
Mesenchymal tumors 16,764 2,943 ** (**-**)
Primary melanocytic lesions 281 174 28 (21-47)
Lymphoma 19,855 13,519 16 (15-17)
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 209 97 138 (98-**)
Germ cell tumors 3,569 518 ** (**-**)
Tumors of the pituitary 172,615 20,558 ** (**-**)
Craniopharyngioma 8,005 1,673 ** (**-**)
Hemangioma 8,709 957 ** (**-**)
Neoplasm, unspecified 28,825 15,949 44 (41-48)
All other 1,260 206 ** (**-**)

** Cannot be calculated due to median survival not being observed.-- Survival estimates are not presented when fewer than 100 cases were reported for the specific category.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; CI, confidence interval; NOS, not otherwise specified; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

Fig. 26.

Fig. 26

A) Kaplan-Meier Survival Curves for the Five Most Common Histopathologies within Age Group at Diagnosis (Ages 0-14, 15-39, and 40+ Years) and B) Hazard Ratios And 95% Confidence Intervals for Sex, Age at Diagnosis, Race, and Ethnicity for the Five Most Common Histopathologies Overall, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NPCR 2001-2018

Fig. 24.

Fig. 24

Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Ratesa of Malignant and Non-Malignant Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Central Cancer Registry, CBTRUS Statistical Report: US Cancer Statistics – NPCR and SEER, 2015-2019

  • Median survival was lowest for glioblastoma (8 months) and highest for oligodendroglioma (199 months, or approximately 16.6 years).

  • Median survival was not able to be estimated for pilocytic astrocytoma, unique astrocytoma variants, ependymal tumors, other neuroepithelial tumors, neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors, choroid plexus tumors, tumors of the pineal region, embryonal tumors, nerve sheath tumors, other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves, germ cell tumors, tumors of the pituitary, craniopharyngioma, and hemangioma as >50% of individuals remained alive during the 15 year follow up period.

  • Many other published survival estimates (including many of those previously published by CBTRUS) incorporate treatment patterns which may explain differences between these population-level estimates and other published estimates.

Demographic factors such as age at diagnosis, sex, race, and ethnicity are known to have a significant effect on survival time after diagnosis in primary brain and other CNS tumors. Hazard ratios for the effect of age groups, sex, race, and ethnicity are shown in Table 24 for all individuals regardless of whether they received any treatment for their tumor. Hazard ratio estimates for demographic factors in the five most common histopathologies are shown by histopathology in Figure 26B.

Table 24.

Hazard Ratios for Death and 95% Confidence Intervals for Age Group at Diagnosis, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity for Selected Primary Malignant Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumor Histopathologies, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NPCR, 2001-2018 (varying)

Histopathology N Deaths Age Groupsa Sexb Race & Ethnicityc
15-39 Yearsd 40+ Years Female Black, Non-Hispanic AIAN, Non-Hispanic API, Non-Hispanic Hispanic
HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value HR (95% CI) P-value
Diffuse astrocytoma 25,047 13,802 1.89 (1.72-2.08) <0.0001 6.77 (6.19-7.40) <0.0001 0.96 (0.93-0.99) 0.0132 1.04 (0.97-1.11) 0.2563 0.81 (0.66-1.01) 0.0583 0.88 (0.78-0.98) 0.0194 0.79 (0.75-0.84) <0.0001
Anaplastic astrocytoma 17,821 12,453 0.39 (0.35-0.43) <0.0001 1.28 (1.18-1.40) <0.0001 0.97 (0.93-1.00) 0.0495 1.08 (1.00-1.15) 0.0444 0.91 (0.71-1.16) 0.4344 0.85 (0.76-0.95) 0.0050 0.81 (0.76-0.86) <0.0001
Glioblastoma 145,178 129,570 0.73 (0.68-0.78) <0.0001 1.77 (1.66-1.89) <0.0001 1.02 (1.01-1.03) <0.0001 0.92 (0.90-0.94) <0.0001 1.01 (0.93-1.11) 0.7750 0.70 (0.67-0.73) <0.0001 0.77 (0.75-0.78) <0.0001
Oligodendroglioma 11,989 3,722 3.44 (2.36-5.01) <0.0001 7.59 (5.23-11.03) <0.0001 0.86 (0.81-0.92) <0.0001 1.39 (1.21-1.59) <0.0001 1.28 (0.87-1.90) 0.2144 0.79 (0.64-0.97) 0.0273 0.76 (0.68-0.86) <0.0001
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma 5,351 2,532 0.74 (0.49-1.11) 0.1410 1.57 (1.05-2.33) 0.0261 0.89 (0.82-0.96) 0.0031 1.24 (1.06-1.46) 0.0089 0.91 (0.53-1.57) 0.7405 0.78 (0.64-0.96) 0.0192 0.79 (0.69-0.90) 0.0007
Oligoastrocytic tumors 6,941 3,503 1.74 (1.29-2.35) 0.0003 3.68 (2.74-4.94) <0.0001 0.92 (0.86-0.98) 0.0123 1.34 (1.17-1.53) <0.0001 1.29 (0.87-1.89) 0.2026 0.90 (0.74-1.09) 0.2899 0.85 (0.75-0.95) 0.0060
Pilocytic astrocytoma 15,813 1,197 1.81 (1.57-2.09) <0.0001 8.32 (7.25-9.54) <0.0001 0.85 (0.76-0.96) 0.0064 1.35 (1.13-1.61) 0.0008 1.25 (0.67-2.34) 0.4786 0.85 (0.57-1.28) 0.4398 1.09 (0.91-1.29) 0.3409
Unique astrocytoma variants 2,463 420 2.13 (1.63-2.79) <0.0001 7.94 (6.06-10.39) <0.0001 0.78 (0.64-0.94) 0.0106 0.84 (0.62-1.13) 0.2410 1.06 (0.44-2.57) 0.8927 1.10 (0.68-1.80) 0.6919 0.83 (0.62-1.11) 0.2007
Ependymal tumors 18,710 3,277 0.33 (0.29-0.37) <0.0001 0.86 (0.79-0.94) 0.0007 0.78 (0.73-0.84) <0.0001 1.43 (1.27-1.60) <0.0001 1.28 (0.86-1.90) 0.2219 0.78 (0.61-0.99) 0.0446 1.12 (1.01-1.24) 0.0256
Glioma malignant, NOS 20,825 9,875 0.77 (0.71-0.83) <0.0001 3.52 (3.35-3.69) <0.0001 1.01 (0.97-1.05) 0.7423 1.07 (1.00-1.14) 0.0387 0.91 (0.69-1.20) 0.5096 0.91 (0.81-1.02) 0.1059 0.99 (0.93-1.06) 0.8101
Choroid plexus tumors 2,274 338 0.55 (0.39-0.79) 0.0011 2.41 (1.90-3.07) <0.0001 0.89 (0.71-1.10) 0.2744 1.74 (1.24-2.44) 0.0012 2.03 (0.84-4.95) 0.1171 1.38 (0.80-2.37) 0.2458 0.93 (0.68-1.27) 0.6420
Other neuroepithelial tumors 283 83 2.46 (0.80-7.53) 0.1146 13.18 (4.75-36.56) <0.0001 0.96 (0.60-1.52) 0.8489 0.76 (0.34-1.70) 0.5064 ** (**-**) ** 0.83 (0.26-2.66) 0.7502 0.85 (0.43-1.68) 0.6362
Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors 12,602 1,559 1.43 (1.18-1.73) 0.0002 6.04 (5.10-7.15) <0.0001 0.78 (0.70-0.86) <0.0001 1.49 (1.28-1.73) <0.0001 1.80 (1.04-3.11) 0.0357 1.09 (0.82-1.44) 0.5538 1.15 (0.98-1.35) 0.0826
Tumors of the pineal region 1,979 506 0.55 (0.43-0.70) <0.0001 1.04 (0.83-1.30) 0.7328 0.57 (0.47-0.68) <0.0001 1.28 (1.02-1.61) 0.0356 1.00 (0.41-2.43) 0.9990 0.54 (0.25-1.14) 0.1061 1.13 (0.88-1.45) 0.3441
Embryonal tumors 10,715 4,194 0.83 (0.77-0.90) <0.0001 1.96 (1.79-2.15) <0.0001 1.00 (0.94-1.06) 0.9695 1.20 (1.09-1.32) 0.0002 0.71 (0.46-1.08) 0.1053 1.02 (0.87-1.20) 0.7888 0.96 (0.89-1.04) 0.2917
Nerve sheath tumors 87,503 8,450 1.58 (1.19-2.10) 0.0018 6.11 (4.66-8.01) <0.0001 0.84 (0.81-0.88) <0.0001 1.18 (1.08-1.29) 0.0003 1.44 (1.12-1.86) 0.0045 0.60 (0.53-0.69) <0.0001 0.84 (0.77-0.91) <0.0001
Other tumors of cranial and spinal nerves -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Meningiomas 382,599 107,072 0.80 (0.60-1.06) 0.1178 5.75 (4.34-7.60) <0.0001 0.70 (0.69-0.71) <0.0001 1.03 (1.01-1.04) 0.0080 0.80 (0.73-0.88) <0.0001 0.63 (0.61-0.66) <0.0001 0.71 (0.69-0.73) <0.0001
Mesenchymal tumors 16,764 2,943 0.86 (0.68-1.08) 0.1984 3.10 (2.52-3.82) <0.0001 0.87 (0.81-0.94) 0.0002 1.19 (1.06-1.34) 0.0036 1.03 (0.71-1.50) 0.8602 0.76 (0.60-0.96) 0.0194 0.93 (0.82-1.05) 0.2303
Primary melanocytic lesions 281 174 0.35 (0.18-0.67) 0.0015 0.75 (0.43-1.30) 0.3076 0.94 (0.69-1.28) 0.6898 1.09 (0.56-2.15) 0.7966 ** (**-**) ** 0.98 (0.31-3.11) 0.9780 1.00 (0.62-1.59) 0.9860
Lymphoma 19,855 13,519 3.64 (2.56-5.18) <0.0001 6.93 (4.90-9.81) <0.0001 0.94 (0.91-0.97) 0.0002 1.15 (1.08-1.22) <0.0001 1.06 (0.85-1.32) 0.6138 0.79 (0.73-0.86) <0.0001 0.88 (0.84-0.94) <0.0001
Other hematopoietic neoplasms 209 97 ** (**-**) ** ** (**-**) ** 1.02 (0.68-1.54) 0.9174 0.81 (0.49-1.35) 0.4276 1.84 (0.44-7.65) 0.4009 1.11 (0.40-3.08) 0.8393 0.72 (0.37-1.38) 0.3193
Germ cell tumors 3,569 518 1.00 (0.83-1.21) 0.9997 2.08 (1.55-2.78) <0.0001 1.30 (1.08-1.58) 0.0069 0.87 (0.63-1.21) 0.4191 1.59 (0.59-4.27) 0.3558 1.03 (0.76-1.41) 0.8313 1.08 (0.87-1.33) 0.4991
Tumors of the pituitary 172,615 20,558 2.04 (1.30-3.22) 0.0021 20.62 (13.15-32.33) <0.0001 0.75 (0.73-0.77) <0.0001 1.14 (1.10-1.18) <0.0001 0.91 (0.76-1.08) 0.2737 0.63 (0.58-0.69) <0.0001 0.71 (0.68-0.75) <0.0001
Craniopharyngioma 8,005 1,673 1.99 (1.58-2.50) <0.0001 6.61 (5.43-8.05) <0.0001 0.86 (0.78-0.95) 0.0028 1.73 (1.55-1.93) <0.0001 1.54 (0.94-2.53) 0.0863 0.63 (0.46-0.85) 0.0030 1.03 (0.88-1.20) 0.7045
Hemangioma 8,709 957 1.49 (0.76-2.89) 0.2436 11.15 (5.98-20.82) <0.0001 0.65 (0.57-0.73) <0.0001 1.45 (1.20-1.76) 0.0001 ** (**-**) ** 0.64 (0.44-0.95) 0.0252 0.80 (0.65-0.99) 0.0426
Neoplasm, unspecified 28,825 15,949 0.73 (0.63-0.85) <0.0001 5.53 (4.87-6.29) <0.0001 0.94 (0.91-0.97) <0.0001 0.74 (0.70-0.78) <0.0001 0.71 (0.57-0.88) 0.0019 0.80 (0.72-0.89) <0.0001 0.64 (0.61-0.68) <0.0001
All other 1,260 206 1.53 (0.78-3.03) 0.2182 9.22 (5.23-16.26) <0.0001 0.67 (0.51-0.89) 0.0057 1.11 (0.71-1.72) 0.6452 3.36 (0.83-13.61) 0.0901 0.49 (0.16-1.54) 0.2223 0.95 (0.64-1.41) 0.8008

Reference group is Children (<14 years) as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/pediatric.

Reference group is males.

Reference group is White non-Hispanic.

Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA), as defined by the National Cancer Institute, see: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya.

** Cannot be calculated.

-- Survival estimates are not presented when fewer than 100 cases were reported for the specific category.

Abbreviations: AIAN, American Indian/Alaska Native; API, Asian or Pacific Islander; CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; CI, confidence interval; HR: Hazard Ratio; NOS, not otherwise specified; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • AYA (15-39 years) had better overall survival as compared to children ages 0-14 years old in almost half of the histopathologies evaluated. Children and AYA age groups had similar survival in germ cell tumors.

  • Older adults (40+ years old) had poorer survival than children (0-14 years) in nearly every histopathology with the exception of primary melanocytic lesions.

  • Females generally had better survival outcomes as compared to males with the exception of glioblastoma, glioma malignant, NOS, embryonal tumors, other hemopoietic neoplasms, and germ cell tumors.

  • Individuals who are Black, non-Hispanic had poorer survival outcomes as compared to individuals who are White, non-Hispanic with the exception of glioblastoma, unique astrocytoma variants, other neuroepithelial tumors, other hemopoietic neoplasms, germ cell tumors, and neoplasm unspecified.

  • Individuals who are AIAN, non-Hispanic had poorer survival as compared to individuals who are White, non-Hispanic in many histopathologies, though the small size of this population meant that many of these associations were non-significant.

  • Being an API, non-Hispanic individual was associated with improved survival in many histopathologies as compared to individuals who were White, Non-Hispanic, though many of these associations were non-significant.

  • Hispanic ethnicity was associated with improved survival in most histopathologies.

  • Many other published survival estimates (including many of those previously published by CBTRUS83-85) incorporate treatment patterns which may explain differences between these population-level estimates and other published estimates.

When interpreting these results, it is important to remember that these models do not incorporate important factors that affect survival such as treatment patterns, health insurance, or type of facility at which an individual received treatment, all of which may be associated with these demographic factors as well as overall survival.

Relative Survival Rates for Brain and Other CNS Tumors by Site and Behavior

Relative survival estimates by site and behavior are presented in Table 25 and Supplementary Table 12.

Table 25.

One-, Five-, and Ten-Year Relative Survival Ratesa,b with 95% Confidence Intervals for Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors by Site and Behavior, CBTRUS Statistical Report: NPCR, 
2001-2018 (varying)

Site (ICD-O 
Topography Code) All (2004-2018) Malignant (2001-2018)c Non-Malignant (2004-2018)d
Ne 1-Year RS (95% CI) 5-Year RS (95% CI) 10-Year RS (95% CI) Ne 1-Year RS (95% CI) 5-Year RS (95% CI) 10-Year RS (95% CI) Nf 1-Year RS (95% CI) 5-Year RS (95% CI) 10-Year RS (95% CI)
Olfactory tumors of the nasal cavity (C30.0)g 1,767 91.2 (89.6-92.5) 79.8 (77.3-82.1) 72.0 (68.5-75.3) 1,793 92.5 (91.0-93.7) 81.7 (79.3-83.8) 73.2 (69.9-76.2) -- -- -- --
Meninges (cerebral and spinal) (C70.0-C70.9) 383,894 93.2 (93.1-93.3) 87.9 (87.7-88.1) 83.1 (82.8-83.4) 6,024 83.7 (82.7-84.7) 67.2 (65.8-68.7) 60.1 (58.3-61.9) 378,284 93.4 (93.3-93.5) 88.3 (88.1-88.5) 83.6 (83.3-83.8)
Cerebral meninges (C70.0) 313,886 93.1 (93.0-93.2) 87.8 (87.6-88.0) 82.8 (82.5-83.1) 4,351 84.7 (83.5-85.8) 67.2 (65.5-68.9) 59.9 (57.7-62.0) 309,834 93.3 (93.2-93.4) 88.1 (87.9-88.3) 83.2 (82.9-83.5)
Spinal meninges (C70.1) 17,249 97.5 (97.1-97.8) 96.1 (95.4-96.7) 94.0 (92.7-95.1) 446 85.6 (81.8-88.7) 75.3 (70.1-79.8) 71.1 (64.5-76.8) 16,827 97.8 (97.5-98.1) 96.7 (96.0-97.3) 94.8 (93.4-95.9)
Meninges, NOS 
(C70.9) 52,759 92.0 (91.8-92.3) 85.9 (85.4-86.3) 81.1 (80.3-81.8) 1,227 79.5 (77.0-81.8) 64.2 (60.8-67.4) 56.8 (52.7-60.7) 51,623 92.3 (92.1-92.6) 86.5 (86.0-86.9) 81.8 (81.0-82.5)
Cerebrum (C71.0) 17,763 58.0 (57.2-58.7) 38.1 (37.3-38.9) 34.3 (33.5-35.2) 15,433 52.8 (52.0-53.6) 29.7 (29.0-30.5) 26.1 (25.2-26.9) 3,142 89.0 (87.7-90.1) 84.6 (83.0-86.2) 80.5 (78.1-82.6)
Frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the brain (C71.1-C71.4) 189,945 59.9 (59.7-60.2) 31.9 (31.6-32.1) 26.4 (26.2-26.7) 174,036 57.9 (57.6-58.1) 27.4 (27.2-27.6) 21.5 (21.3-21.8) 19,565 90.9 (90.4-91.3) 86.9 (86.3-87.5) 83.4 (82.5-84.2)
Frontal lobe (C71.1) 81,943 62.2 (61.9-62.5) 37.0 (36.7-37.4) 30.5 (30.1-30.9) 75,551 61.2 (60.9-61.6) 34.3 (33.9-34.6) 27.1 (26.7-27.5) 7,927 89.3 (88.5-90.0) 84.3 (83.3-85.3) 79.8 (78.3-81.2)
Temporal lobe (C71.2) 60,591 60.8 (60.4-61.2) 29.1 (28.7-29.5) 24.4 (24.0-24.9) 54,708 58.0 (57.6-58.4) 23.1 (22.7-23.5) 17.8 (17.4-18.2) 6,753 93.8 (93.1-94.4) 91.0 (90.1-91.8) 89.0 (87.8-90.1)
Parietal lobe (C71.3) 37,208 54.0 (53.5-54.5) 25.4 (24.9-25.9) 20.9 (20.4-21.5) 34,965 51.4 (50.9-52.0) 20.7 (20.2-21.2) 16.2 (15.8-16.7) 3,407 88.5 (87.2-89.6) 84.2 (82.6-85.7) 80.2 (78.0-82.3)
Occipital lobe (C71.4) 10,203 58.2 (57.2-59.1) 30.1 (29.1-31.1) 26.0 (24.9-27.1) 8,812 53.9 (52.8-55.0) 22.0 (21.1-23.0) 17.9 (17.0-18.9) 1,478 91.5 (89.8-92.9) 88.5 (86.1-90.4) 83.8 (80.4-86.6)
Ventricle (C71.5) 10,613 86.4 (85.7-87.0) 78.9 (78.0-79.8) 74.9 (73.8-76.0) 5,006 76.7 (75.5-77.9) 64.0 (62.6-65.4) 59.3 (57.7-60.9) 6,041 94.5 (93.8-95.1) 91.6 (90.6-92.4) 88.7 (87.3-90.0)
Cerebellum (C71.6) 23,174 88.4 (87.9-88.8) 79.1 (78.5-79.7) 75.5 (74.8-76.3) 15,597 85.8 (85.3-86.4) 72.8 (72.1-73.6) 68.2 (67.3-69.0) 9,167 94.9 (94.4-95.4) 92.4 (91.6-93.2) 90.4 (89.1-91.5)
Brain stem (C71.7) 16,015 77.5 (76.8-78.1) 62.2 (61.3-63.0) 57.3 (56.3-58.2) 13,608 72.5 (71.7-73.3) 53.3 (52.4-54.2) 48.3 (47.4-49.3) 3,891 92.6 (91.7-93.5) 88.4 (87.1-89.6) 84.5 (82.5-86.3)
Other brain (C71.8-C71.9) 77,468 53.2 (52.8-53.5) 34.8 (34.4-35.1) 30.7 (30.3-31.1) 66,419 46.8 (46.4-47.2) 25.5 (25.1-25.9) 21.5 (21.1-21.8) 14,869 85.7 (85.1-86.3) 80.4 (79.6-81.2) 76.1 (75.1-77.2)
Overlapping lesion of brain (C71.8) 33,220 45.7 (45.2-46.3) 21.4 (20.9-21.9) 17.2 (16.8-17.8) 32,458 44.1 (43.6-44.7) 18.6 (18.1-19.0) 14.3 (13.8-14.8) 2,255 82.8 (81.0-84.4) 77.3 (75.1-79.3) 72.3 (69.6-74.9)
Brain, NOS (C71.9) 44,248 58.8 (58.3-59.2) 44.7 (44.2-45.2) 40.9 (40.3-41.4) 33,961 49.3 (48.7-49.8) 32.1 (31.5-32.6) 28.3 (27.7-28.8) 12,614 86.3 (85.6-86.9) 81.0 (80.1-81.8) 76.8 (75.7-78.0)
Spinal cord and cauda equina (C72.0-C72.1) 31,097 96.1 (95.8-96.3) 93.0 (92.5-93.4) 91.2 (90.6-91.8) 10,029 89.9 (89.3-90.5) 81.8 (80.9-82.7) 78.0 (76.9-79.1) 21,781 99.1 (98.9-99.2) 98.5 (98.1-98.9) 98.0 (97.2-98.6)
Spinal cord (C72.0) 29,969 96.0 (95.8-96.3) 92.9 (92.5-93.3) 91.0 (90.3-91.6) 9,794 89.9 (89.3-90.5) 81.7 (80.8-82.6) 77.9 (76.7-79.0) 20,855 99.1 (98.9-99.2) 98.6 (98.1-98.9) 98.0 (97.1-98.6)
Cauda equina (C72.1) 1,128 97.0 (95.6-98.0) 94.8 (92.3-96.5) 94.4 (91.7-96.3) 235 89.8 (84.8-93.2) 85.3 (78.8-90.0) 83.5 (75.4-89.1) 926 98.6 (97.2-99.3) 97.6 (94.5-98.9) 97.1 (93.8-98.7)
Cranial nerves (C72.2-C72.5) 72,578 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 99.3 (99.2-99.4) 4,386 97.3 (96.7-97.8) 94.2 (93.3-94.9) 93.1 (92.0-94.0) 68,633 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6)
Olfactory nerve (C72.2) 95 95.3 (87.2-98.3) 93.2 (80.4-97.8) 89.0 (72.3-95.8) 34 91.7 (74.0-97.5) 74.1 (51.7-87.3) 66.7 (42.5-82.5) 64 97.5 (84.8-99.6) 97.5 (84.8-99.6) 97.5 (84.8-99.6)
Optic nerve (C72.3) 4,273 98.3 (97.8-98.7) 96.0 (95.2-96.7) 95.2 (94.2-96.1) 3,931 98.0 (97.5-98.5) 95.6 (94.8-96.3) 94.8 (93.9-95.6) 740 99.8 (88.8-100.0) 97.8 (93.9-99.2) 96.5 (91.0-98.6)
Acoustic nerve (C72.4) 56,027 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 148 94.3 (88.3-97.3) 93.2 (86.4-96.7) 93.0 (81.6-97.4) 55,918 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6) 99.5 (99.4-99.6)
Cranial nerve, NOS (C72.5) 12,183 98.9 (98.6-99.2) 98.7 (98.3-99.0) 98.7 (98.3-99.0) 273 88.8 (84.0-92.2) 75.8 (69.5-81.0) 71.6 (63.4-78.2) 11,911 99.3 (99.0-99.5) 99.2 (98.8-99.5) 99.2 (98.8-99.5)
Other nervous system (C72.8-C72.9) 6,083 79.8 (78.7-80.8) 72.3 (70.9-73.6) 67.8 (66.0-69.4) 3,075 63.7 (62.0-65.5) 50.4 (48.3-52.4) 44.3 (41.9-46.6) 2,985 97.3 (96.6-98.0) 94.7 (93.4-95.8) 91.4 (89.3-93.1)
Overlapping lesion of brain & CNS (C72.8) 786 74.8 (71.4-77.8) 66.0 (62.0-69.7) 60.7 (55.5-65.5) 447 61.0 (56.1-65.5) 45.4 (40.0-50.5) 37.2 (31.0-43.3) 346 95.1 (91.7-97.2) 90.5 (85.5-93.9) 87.4 (78.8-92.7)
Nervous system, NOS (C72.9) 5,297 80.5 (79.4-81.6) 73.2 (71.8-74.5) 68.8 (67.0-70.5) 2,628 64.2 (62.3-66.1) 51.2 (49.0-53.4) 45.4 (42.8-48.0) 2,639 97.6 (96.8-98.2) 95.2 (93.8-96.2) 91.9 (89.8-93.7)
Pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct (C75.1- C75.2) 183,633 97.9 (97.8-98.0) 96.3 (96.2-96.5) 94.3 (94.0-94.5) 1,320 87.4 (85.3-89.2) 76.3 (73.5-78.9) 69.2 (65.6-72.4) 182,453 98.0 (97.9-98.1) 96.5 (96.3-96.7) 94.5 (94.2-94.7)
Pituitary gland (C75.1) 178,233 98.1 (98.0-98.2) 96.7 (96.5-96.9) 94.8 (94.5-95.1) 1,295 87.6 (85.6-89.4) 76.7 (73.9-79.3) 69.5 (65.9-72.9) 177,078 98.2 (98.1-98.2) 96.9 (96.7-97.0) 95.0 (94.7-95.3)
Craniopharyngeal duct (C75.2) 5,400 92.4 (91.6-93.1) 84.6 (83.4-85.8) 77.6 (75.9-79.2) -- -- -- -- 5,375 92.5 (91.7-93.2) 84.8 (83.6-85.9) 77.8 (76.1-79.4)
Pineal (C75.3) 4,312 91.9 (91.0-92.7) 82.7 (81.4-84.0) 78.4 (76.7-80.0) 2,942 90.0 (88.9-91.1) 77.2 (75.4-78.8) 71.6 (69.6-73.5) 1,678 94.6 (93.2-95.6) 91.3 (89.4-92.9) 88.7 (85.9-90.9)

aThe cohort analysis of survival rates was utilized for calculating the survival estimates presented in this table. Long-term cohort-based survival estimates reflect the survival experience of individuals diagnosed over the time period, and they may not necessarily reflect the long-term survival outlook of newly diagnosed cases.

bRates are an estimate of the percentage of patients alive at one, two, five, and ten years, respectively.

cAssigned behavior code of /3 (see Table 2).

dAssigned behavior code of /0 or /1 (see Table 2)

eTotal number of cases that occurred within the included NPCR and SEER registries between 2001 and 2018.

fTotal number of cases that occurred within the included NPCR and SEER registries between 2004 and 2018.

gICD-O-3 histopathology codes 9522-9523 only.

-- Rates were not presented for categories with 50 or fewer cases and were suppressed for rates where fewer than 16 cases were surviving within a category.

** Confidence interval could not be calculated.

Abbreviations: CBTRUS, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States; CI, confidence interval; NCI, National Cancer Institute; NOS, not otherwise specified; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; RS, Relative Survival; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

  • The highest overall five-year survival was for tumors occurring in the acoustic nerves (99.5%).

  • The lowest overall five-year survival was for tumors occurring in the overlapping lesion of the brain (21.4%).

  • The five-year survival for malignant tumors by site ranged from 18.6% (tumors in the overlapping lesion of the brain) to 95.6% (tumors in the optic nerves).

  • The five-year survival for non-malignant tumors ranged from 72.3% (tumors in the overlapping lesion of the brain) to 99.5% (tumors in the cranial nerves and acoustic nerve).

Relative Survival Rates for Brain and Other CNS Tumors by Histopathology, Behavior and Age Groups

Relative survival estimates for brain and other CNS tumors by histopathology, behavior, and age at diagnosis are shown in Table 11 and Supplementary Table 13.

  • There was large variation in survival estimates for all ages depending upon tumor histopathology; five-year survival rates were 99.2% for tumors of the pituitary and 6.9% for glioblastoma.

  • Survival generally decreased with older age at diagnosis; children and young adults generally had better survival outcomes for most histopathologies.

  • Among predominantly non-malignant histopathologies, five-year survival was lowest in primary melanocytic lesions which had five-year relative survival of 66.5%.

  • Among predominantly non-malignant histopathologies, five-year survival was highest in nerve sheath tumors which had five-year relative survival of 99.3%.

  • In general, relative survival in most histopathologies was higher in adolescents and young adults ages 15-39 years as compared to children and adults of all other ages.

Strengths and Limitations of Cancer Registry Data

CBTRUS, in collaboration with the CDC and NCI, is the largest population-based registry focused exclusively on primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States and represents cases collected from the entire US population. The CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019 contains the most up-to-date population-based data on all primary brain tumor and other CNS tumors available through the cancer surveillance system in the United States.

Registration of individual cases is conducted by cancer registrars at the institution where diagnosis or treatment occurs and is then transmitted to the CCR, which further transmits this information to NPCR and/or SEER. CCRs, those contributing data to NPCR and to SEER, only report cases to the CDC and NCI for persons who are residents of that particular state, so duplicate records should not occur for persons who may have traveled across state lines for treatment. As a result, the CBTRUS dataset is a complete recording of all reported cases for the time period examined, 2015-2019, with minimal duplicates.

Currently, there is no publicly available data source for the collection of survival and outcomes data from all geographic regions in the United States via the cancer registry system. Survival data used for this report are collected by NPCR for 42 of the 51 CCRs in the United States—primarily through linkage with death certificate and other administrative records—and by SEER for the remaining CCRs—through active and passive methods—and the feasibility of these data for use in survival studies has been evaluated86,87 and shown to produce reliable and robust estimates of cancer survival. Use of passive follow-up with record linkage may result in overestimation of survival in some populations, such as those whose members are more likely to leave the state or country.

No mechanism currently exists for central pathology review of cases within the US cancer registry system, and histopathology code assignment at case registration is based on histopathology information contained in the patient’s medical record. The WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System was revised in 1993, 2000, 2007, 2016, and 2021.2,19,20,88,89 As of 2018, the US cancer registry system uses the 2016 classification for data abstraction, but tumors included in this report may have been diagnosed using any of the available classifications prior to 2016 due to the variation in adoption of new standards by individual physicians and medical practices. As a result, histopathologies are reflective of the prevailing criteria for the histopathology at the time of case registration. This means that despite changes to the histopathology schema that may occur over time, it is not possible, without additional variables, to go back and reclassify tumors based on the new criteria. In addition to changes in histopathologic criteria over time, there is significant inter-rater variability in histopathological diagnosis of glioma.90,91 This also means that incomplete, incorrect, or alternatively stated diagnoses included in a pathology report or other medical record may result in an incorrect reporting of the details of an individual case. For example, an anaplastic oligodendroglioma recorded in a pathology record as oligodendroglioma WHO grade III may be incorrectly recorded as an oligodendroglioma when the accurate category is an anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

US cancer registration requires the reporting of cases that are confirmed by different types of diagnostic procedures, including both histopathologic confirmation (where surgery was performed and the diagnosis confirmed on a tissue specimen by a pathologist) and radiographic confirmation (where diagnosis was made based solely on imaging criteria, such as an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray). Only histopathologic confirmation allows certainty on the assignment of a specific histopathology as well as for an assignment of a WHO grade. Many 
tumors have unique characteristics that make them identifiable on imaging, and thereby qualify as a valid type of diagnostic procedure, but it is important to consider the decreased level of certainty of specifying the correct histopathology in these tumors.

CONCLUDING COMMENT

The CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2015-2019 comprehensively describes the most up to date (October 2022) population-based incidence, mortality, and relative survival of primary 
malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumors collected and reported by central cancer registries covering the entire US population. This report aims to serve as a useful resource for researchers, clinicians, patients, and families. CBTRUS continually revises its reports to reflect the current collection and reporting practices of the broader surveillance community in which it works, while integrating the input it receives from the clinical and research communities, especially from neuropathologists, when possible. In this way, CBTRUS facilitates communication between the cancer surveillance and the brain tumor research and clinical communities and contributes meaningful insight into the descriptive epidemiology of all primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States.92

CBTRUS Mission

CBTRUS is a not-for-profit corporation committed to providing a resource for gathering and disseminating current epidemiologic data on all primary brain and other central nervous system tumors, benign and malignant, for the purposes of accurately describing their incidence and survival patterns, evaluating diagnosis and treatment, facilitating etiologic studies, establishing awareness of the disease, and, ultimately, for the prevention of all brain tumors.

Disclaimer

CBTRUS is a not-for-profit corporation which gathers and disseminates epidemiologic data on primary brain and other central nervous system tumors to facilitate research and establish awareness of the disease. CBTRUS makes no representations or warranties, and gives no other assurances or guarantees, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the data presented. The information provided in this report is not intended to assist in the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of individual diseases. Persons with questions regarding individual diseases should contact their own physician to obtain medical assistance. The contents in this report are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or of the NCI.

Jill S. Barnholtz-Sloan, Ph.D. is a full-time paid employee of the NIH/NCI. Gino Cioffi, M.P.H. and Kristin A. Waite, Ph.D. are full-time contractors of the NIH/NCI.

Supplementary Material

noac202_suppl_Supplementary_Materials

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was prepared by the CBTRUS Co-Scientific Principal Investigator, Quinn T. Ostrom, Ph.D., M.P.H. and her research team from Duke University School of Medicine in collaboration with Co-Scientific Principal Investigator Jill S. Barnholtz-Sloan, Ph.D., her research staff affiliated with the NCI, DCEG, whose services were provided by DCEG, and CBTRUS President and Chief Mission Officer Carol Kruchko, collectively known as the CBTRUS Team. The CBTRUS data presented in this report were provided through an agreement with the CDC, NPCR. In addition, CBTRUS used data from the research data files of the NCI, SEER Program. CBTRUS acknowledges and appreciates these contributions to this report and to cancer surveillance in general.

We acknowledge the efforts of the tumor registrars at hospitals and treatment centers, the CCRs, and the staff from the NPCR and SEER programs, whose efforts to collect accurate and complete data have made this report possible. We are also grateful to our Consulting Neuropathologists, Drs. Janet Bruner, Roger McLendon, Tarik Tihan, and Daniel Brat, who answered our questions and provided feedback throughout the year, to our Board of Directors and Advisors, and especially Drs. Melissa Bondy, Elizabeth Claus, and Nancy Stroup and to Claudia Smits, L.L.M., Reda J. Wilson, M.P.H., C.T.R., and Mary Elizabeth O’Neil, M.P.H.

Glossary

Abbreviations

AAAIR

Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Rate

AAAMR

Average Annual Age-Adjusted Mortality Rate

ABTA

American Brain Tumor Association

ACVR1

Activin A Receptor, Type I

AIAN

American Indian/Alaskan Native

AJCC

American Joint Commission on Cancer

APC

Annual Percent Change

API

Asian or Pacific Islander

AYA

Adolescents and Young Adults

ATRT

Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor

CBTRUS

Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States

CCR

Central Cancer Registry

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CI

Confidence Interval

CNS

Central Nervous System

CS

Collaborative Staging

DIPG

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

IACR

International Agency for Cancer Research

ICD-O-3

International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition

ICCC

International Classification of Childhood Cancer

IDH1/2

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1/2

IRR

Incidence Rate Ratio

MGMT

O-6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase

NAACCR

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries

NCHS

National Center for Health Statistics

NCI

National Cancer Institute

NOS

Not Otherwise Specified

NPCR

National Program of Cancer Registries

NPCR-CSS

NPCR Cancer Surveillance System

NVSS

National Vital Statistics System

PDGFRA

Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor A

PI3KCA

Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Catalytic subunit Alpha

SEER

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

SHH

Sonic Hedgehog

SSDI

Site-Specific Data Items

SSF

Site-Specific Factors

SSF 4

Promoter methylation status of O-6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase

SSF 5

Deletion of the 1p

SSF 6

Deletion of 19q

TP53

Tumor Protein p53

UDS

Uniform Data Standards

US

United States

USCS

United States Cancer Statistics

VACCR

Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry

VHA

Veterans Health Administration

WHO

World Health Organization

WNT

Wingless

Contributor Information

Quinn T Ostrom, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Mackenzie Price, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Corey Neff, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Gino Cioffi, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Kristin A Waite, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Carol Kruchko, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA.

Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA; Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology (CBIIT), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

The CBTRUS Scientific Team

Quinn T. Ostrom, Ph.D., M.P.H., CBTRUS Co-Scientific -Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center and Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

Jill S. Barnholtz-Sloan, Ph.D., CBTRUS Co-Scientific Principal Investigator, Associate Director and Senior Investigator, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology (CBIIT) and Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Gino Cioffi, M.P.H., Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Corey Neff, M.P.H., Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

Mackenzie Price, M.P.H., Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

Kristin A. Waite, Ph.D., Trans Divisional Research Program (TDRP), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

The CBTRUS Consulting Neuropathologists

Daniel J. Brat, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Janet M. Bruner, M.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (Retired)

Roger E. McLendon, M.D., Professor, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center and Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Tarik Tihan, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Neuropathology Division, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA

The CBTRUS Board of Directors

Carol Kruchko, President & Chief Mission Officer, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, IL

Steven Brem, M.D., Professor, Penn Neuroscience Center-Neurosurgery, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Donald Segal, J.D., Treasurer, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd., Chicago, IL

Elizabeth B. Claus, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Biostatistics and Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, Attending Neurosurgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Fred H. Hochberg, M.D., Visiting Scientist, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA

Margaret Wrensch, Ph.D., Professor, Neuroepidemiology Division, Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Darell D. Bigner, M.D., Ph.D. (Emeritus Member), Edwin L. Jones, Jr. and Lucille Finch Jones Cancer Research Professor, Department of Pathology, Emeritus Director, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Chief, Preuss Laboratory for Brain Tumor Research, Duke, University Medical Center, Durham, NC

L. Lloyd Morgan (Emeritus Member), Patient Advocate, Berkeley, CA.

The CBTRUS Board of Advisors

Hoda Anton-Culver, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Department of Medicine; Principal Investigator, All of Us Precision Medicine Research Program; Director, Genetic Epidemiology Research Institute, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA

Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Jennifer Cullen, Ph.D., Professor, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Faith Davis, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Roberta McKean-Cowdin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Nancy Stroup, Ph.D., Epidemiologist (Retired).

John Villano, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, KY

Funding

CBTRUS is honored to be included among the research awardees of the following organizations which have contributed to the analyses resulting from the CBTRUS database in 2022: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under Contract No. 75D30119C06056 Amendment/Modification No:00002, the American Brain Tumor Association, Novocure, the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. The Sontag Foundation, National Brain Tumor Society, the Uncle Kory Foundation, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Zelda Dorin Tetenbaum Memorial Fund as well as private and in kind donations. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or of the NCI.

Selected CBTRUS Scientific Publications

Cote DJ, et al. “Glioma incidence and survival variations by county-level socioeconomic measures.” Cancer. 2019 Oct 1;125(19):3390-3400. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32328. PMID: 31206646; PMCID: PMC6744292.

This analysis of glioma incidence and survival based on county-levels of SES identifies a significant association between both increased incidence and improved survival for individuals with glioma in higher SES counties.

Dong M, et al. “Sex Differences in Cancer Incidence and Survival: A Pan-Cancer Analysis.” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020 Jul;29(7):1389-1397. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0036. PMID: 32349967.

This analysis uses a pan-cancer approach to interrogate sex differences in cancer incidence and survival, with a special focus on brain and other CNS tumors.

Iorgulescu JB, et al. “Molecular Biomarker-Defined Brain Tumors: Epidemiology, Validity, and Completeness in the United States.” Neuro Oncol. 2022 Apr 23:noac113. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac113. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35460555.

This analysis investigated the completeness and validity of the novel brain molecular markers (BMM) site-specific data item after its first year of collection.

Kruchko C, et al. “Cancer collection efforts in the United States provide clinically relevant data on all primary brain and other CNS tumors.” Neurooncol Pract. 2019 Sep;6(5):330-339. doi: 10.1093/nop/npz029. PMID: 31555447; PMCID: PMC6753356.

A summary of cancer registration efforts and data sources in the United States.

Kruchko C, et al. “The CBTRUS story: providing accurate population-based statistics on brain and other central nervous system tumors for everyone.” Neuro Oncol. 2018 Feb 19;20(3):295-298. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noy006. PMID: 29471448; PMCID: PMC5817957.

A summary of the history and mission of the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States.

Low JT, et al. “Primary brain and other central nervous system tumors in the United States (2014-2018): A summary of the CBTRUS statistical report for clinicians.” Neurooncol Pract. 2022 Feb 22;9(3):165-182. doi: 10.1093/nop/npac015. PMID: 35601966; PMCID: PMC9113389.

A special, condensed CBTRUS Statistical Report designed to be a streamlined and useful resource for practicing clinicians.

Ostrom QT, et al. “CBTRUS Statistical Report: Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Childhood and Adolescent Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2014-2018.” Neuro Oncol. 2022 Sep 6;24(Suppl 3):iii1-iii38. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac161. PMID: 36066969; PMCID: PMC9447434.

This special report, funded by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, presents incidence and survival statistics for children 0-14 using histopathology groupings that were re-organized to be a more accurate representation of clinical behavior in pediatric brain tumors.

Ostrom QT, et al. “American Brain Tumor Association Adolescent and Young Adult Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2008-2012.” Neuro Oncol. 2016 Jan;18 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i1-i50. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nov297. PMID: 26705298; PMCID: PMC4690545.

This special report, funded by the American Brain Tumor Association, presents incidence and survival statistics for adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39).

Ostrom QT, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS. Pilocytic astrocytomas: where do they belong in cancer reporting? Neuro Oncol. 2020 Feb 20;22(2):298-300. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noz202. PMID: 31637436; PMCID: PMC7442407.

This letter describes the history of inclusion of pilocytic astrocytoma in cancer registry reporting, and the effect of varying behavior classification for these tumors on incidence and survival patterns.

Patil N, et al. “Epidemiology of Brainstem High-Grade Gliomas in Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2000-2017.” Neuro Oncol. 2020 Dec 21:noaa295. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa295. PMID: 33346835.

This manuscript details the descriptive epidemiology, including incidence, survival and prevalence, for gliomas of the brain stem in children and adolescents.

Truitt G, et al. “Partnership for defining the impact of 12 selected rare CNS tumors: a report from the CBTRUS and the NCI-CONNECT.” J Neurooncol. 2019 Aug;144(1):53-63. doi: 10.1007/s11060-019-03215-x. PMID: 31209773.

This analysis, completed in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute’s NCI-CONNECT program, presents incidence, survival, and prevalence estimates for a selection of rare tumor histopathologies that are the focus of the NCI-CONNECT program.

Wang, G, et al. “Importance of the intersection of age and sex to understand variation in incidence and survival for primary malignant gliomas.” Neuro Oncol. 2022 Feb 1;24(2):302-310. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noab199. PMID: 34387331; PMCID: PMC8804884.

This manuscript assesses the relationship between age and sex on primary malignant glioma incidence and survival.

Waite KA, et al. “Aligning the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) histology groupings with current definitions.” Neurooncol Pract. 2022 Mar 24;9(4):317-327. doi: 10.1093/nop/npac025. PMID: 35859542; PMCID: PMC9290890.

This manuscript traces the rationale for changes made to the CBTRUS histopathology grouping scheme in order to better align it with modern diagnostic criteria.

Zhang AS, et al. “Complete prevalence of malignant primary brain tumors registry data in the United States compared with other common cancers, 2010.” Neuro Oncol. 2017 May 1;19(5):726-735. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/now252. PMID: 28039365; PMCID: PMC5464453.

This analysis presents a novel statistical method for estimating complete prevalence from geographically-limited cancer survival statistics, and includes age-specific survival estimates for the most common brain and CNS tumor histopathologies.

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