Epidemiology of Primary CNS Tumors in Iran: A Systematic Review

Seyed Behzad Jazayeri,Farhad Shokraneh,Rashid Ramezani,Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar,Soheil Saadat

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.6.3979

Abstract

Although primary malignant CNS tumors are registered in the national cancer registry (NCR) of Iran, there are no available data on the incidence of the primary malignant or benign CNS tumors and their common histopathologies in the country. This study analyzed the 10-year data of the Iranian NCR from March 21, 2000 to March 20, 2010, including a systematic review. The international and national scientific databases were searched using the search keywords CNS, tumor, malignancy, brain, spine, neoplasm and Iran. Of the 1,086 primary results, 9 papers were selected and reviewed, along with analysis of 10-year NCR data. The results showed that primary malignant brain tumors have an overall incidence of 2.74 per 100,000 person-years. The analysis of the papers revealed a benign to malignant ratio of 1.07. The most common histopathologies are meningioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma and ependymoma. These tumors are more common in men (M/F=1.48). Primary malignant spinal cord tumors constitute 7.1% of the primary malignant CNS tumors with incidence of 0.21/100,000. This study shows that CNS tumors in Iran are in compliance with the pattern of CNS tumors in developing countries. The NCR must include benign lesions to understand the definitive epidemiology of primary CNS tumors in Iran.

Highlights

The incidence of primary CNS Tumors has been estimated as 3.9 and 3.2 per 100,000 person-year worldwide in males and females, respectively (Ferlay et al, 2010)
Background: primary malignant CNS tumors are registered in the national cancer registry (NCR) of Iran, there are no available data on the incidence of the primary malignant or benign CNS tumors and their common histopathologies in the country
The results showed that primary malignant brain tumors have an overall incidence of 2.74 per 100,000 person-years

Summary

Introduction

The incidence of primary CNS Tumors has been estimated as 3.9 and 3.2 per 100,000 person-year worldwide in males and females, respectively (Ferlay et al, 2010). This study attempts to report a systematic review of the epidemiology of CNS tumors in Iran, in published and recently unpublished reports of NCR data, and in all available published data from authors in English and Farsi journals, and estimates the incidence of primary benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors and their common pathologies. Keywords included: central nervous system, brain, intracranial, cerebroventricular, intraventricular, cerebrum, choroid plexus, infratentorial, posterior fossa, pontine, mesencephalic, midbrain, medullary, cerebellum, supratentorial, hypothalamus, pituitary, neoplasm, cancer, malignancy and Iran.

Results

Conclusion