Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumor Epidemiology

Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumours represent the most common solid malignancies in childhood, accounting for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Incidence rates vary by region, ranging from approximately 30 to 45 cases per million children per year, with higher figures reported in high‐income settings where comprehensive registries capture both malignant and non‐malignant lesions. The spectrum of histologies includes low‐grade gliomas, high‐grade gliomas, embryonal tumours such as medulloblastoma, ependymoma and rarer entities. Survival outcomes have improved over recent decades owing to advances in neurosurgical techniques, radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, yet long‐term prognosis remains poor for several high‐grade subtypes. Epidemiological patterns reveal modest increases in incidence attributable in part to enhanced imaging and registration of indolent tumours. Age at presentation, tumour location and molecular subgroup influence both diagnostic intervals and therapeutic approaches. Delays in diagnosis, often due to non‐specific symptoms, can affect disease stage and complicate treatment. Global efforts emphasise improved surveillance, standardised reporting and early detection initiatives to reduce disparities and inform prevention and management strategies.

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Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumor Epidemiology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in pediatric central nervous system tumor epidemiology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Incidence rate: The number of new cases of paediatric CNS tumours per million children per year, allowing comparison across regions and time periods.

Overall survival: The proportion of patients alive at a defined time (commonly five years) following diagnosis, used to assess treatment efficacy and progress.

Low‐grade glioma: A slow-growing primary brain tumour originating from glial cells, often associated with better prognosis and less aggressive therapy.

Medulloblastoma: A malignant embryonal tumour of the cerebellum, representing the most common high-grade CNS tumour in children, often requiring multimodal treatment.

Diagnostic interval: The time from symptom onset to definitive diagnosis, which can affect tumour stage at presentation and subsequent outcomes.

References

1. Hjernetegn.dk—The Danish Central Nervous System Tumor Awareness Initiative Digital Decision Support Tool: Design and Implementation Report. JMIR Medical Informatics (2024).
2. Childhood and Adolescent Central Nervous System Tumours in Spain: Incidence and Survival over 20 Years: A Historical Baseline for Current Assessment. Cancers (2023).
3. Incidence and survival of childhood central nervous system tumors in Denmark, 1997–2019. Cancer Medicine (2021).