Brain Tumours

Abstract

Malignant brain and nervous system tumors account for 18 820 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States and 12 820 annual cancer deaths. Worldwide the incidence rate of primary malignant brain and nervous system tumors ranges from 5.8 per 100 000 person-years for males in developed countries (4.1 per 100 000 females) to 3.0 per 100 000 person years for males in less developed countries (2.1 per 100 000 person-years females). The causes of brain tumors remain largely unknown with the exception of ionizing radiation and some rare genetic syndromes. The discussion in this article covers suspected behavioral and environmental risk factors for brain tumors including diet, ionizing radiation, cell phones, trauma, infectious agents, allergies, occupational exposures, smoking, alcohol, and pesticides, as well as anatomic and histologic classification of tumors, molecular genetics, and demographic patterns. Our discussion includes tumors of the brain, cranial nerves, and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which account for 95% of all central nervous system tumors.