Cross-sectional ecological study of global burden of pediatric central nervous system tumors

Although analyses of the global burden of pediatric cancers overall have been published, a comprehensive evaluation specific to pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors had up till now not been undertaken. A global analysis of the incidence of pediatric CNS tumors based on GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates has now been published, Of 185 countries with detailed global cancer statistic in GLOBOCAN 2022, 159 included data on CNS tumors in patients aged 0 to 14 years. There were an estimated 24 677 incident cases of pediatric CNS tumors (55.3% in males and 44.7% in females) in 2022. Accounting for 12.3% of all cancer cases, CNS were the second most common cancer in this age group after leukemia. Globally, the incidence age-standardized rates (ASRs) of CNS tumors was estimated at 1.3 per 100 000, with the ASR varying markedly by country, from 0.08 in the Republic of Congo to 3.7 in Montenegro and the US. The estimated incidence ASR was lowest in Africa (0.67) and highest in Europe (2.2) and Northern America (3.6). Considering national income grouping, 79.6% of cases occurred in lwo- and middle-income countries. The authors conclude that pediatric CNS tumors represent an emerging public health priority.