Incidence of Malignant Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors in Golestan, Iran, 2004–2013

Background: Brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors represent almost 3% of all new cancer cases worldwide and comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with varying epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. The aim of this study is to present the distribution and trends in brain and other CNS cancer incidence in Golestan, Iran during a 10-year period. Methods: Data on primary brain and other CNS cancers diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were obtained from the Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR) dataset. We computed age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100000 personyears. In order to assess changes in incidence over time, we calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to detect significant trends. Results: Over the 10-year period (2004-2013), the incidence of brain and other CNS cancer was observed to increase for all ages (EAPC: 1.13, 95% CI: -6.06, 8.87). After 2008, the trends appear to have stabilized. Incidence rates were higher in males than females (ratio: 1.2) and glioblastoma was the most common tumor subtype (15.1% of all malignant tumors). Conclusion: Trends and patterns in the burden of brain and other CNS cancer require careful monitoring alongside future research to increase our understanding of potential risk factors. Keywords: