Transition over 35 Years in the Incidence Rates of Primary Central Nervous System Tumors in Shanghai, China and Histological Subtyping Based on a Single Center Experience Spanning 60 Years

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Only few epidemiological data on primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Shanghaihave been reported. <br/><b>Methods</b>: All cases of primary CNS tumors that were registered at Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) were collected (1973-2007: urban Shanghai; 2003-2007: whole Shanghai city).Trends were analyzed using joinpoint analysis and rates were stratified by age, gender and region. Histologicaldata were collected from both CDC and Huashan Hospital. <br/><b>Results</b>: From 1973 to 2007, the five-year averageincidence rate in urban Shanghai increased in both genders, especially in the elderly population. Joinpointanalysis showed the age-adjusted incidence rate for males increased first but then plateaued, whilst rates forfemales continued increasing over the 35 years. For the five-year status quo (2003-2007), rural had a higher ageadjustedincidence rate than urban populations, and females higher than males, especially those with advancedage. According to CDC (2003-2007) and Huashan Hospital (1951-2011), the two most common histologicalsubtypes were neuroepithelial tumors (with male predominance) and meningiomas (with female predominance).<br/><b>Conclusions</b>: In Shanghai, a steadily increased incidence rate of primary CNS tumors was observed in general,and in the elderly and female population in particular.