Trends in Reported Incidence of Primary Malignant Brain Tumors in Children in the United States

Abstract

The reported incidence of primary malignant brain tumors among children in the United States has increased by 35% during the period from 1973 through 1994 (1). This increase has raised public concern, particularly with regard to the potential role of environmental exposure to chemicals as an explanation for the rising incidence (2). The incidence of primary malignant brain tumors among the elderly has also increased during this same time period (1). Particularly for the elderly population (but also for children), there has been controversy about whether the increasing incidence is the result of the increased application of improved diagnostic imaging technologies such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (3ߝ6).