Title : Population-based incidence trends of Medulloblastoma from 2009–2014: National cancer registry
Abstract:
Introduction: Medulloblastoma (MB), as a highly aggressive malignant tumor of the cerebellum, is the most common pediatric brain cancer that accounts for approximately 20% of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children. MB is very rare in adults. Despite recent advances in the molecular genetics of MB, there is no comprehensive picture of population-based clinical and epidemiological data related to the incidence of this tumor. The purpose of this study is to review population-specific trends in MB by age, sex, and location.
Methods: In this study, cases of histologically confirmed embryonal tumors were identified from the National Cancer Registry Data for incident cases diagnosed from 2009–2014. We calculated age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and crude incidence rates (CIRs) across eighteen age groups based on the world standard population, reported per 100,000 persons. Temporal trends were evaluated overall and by sex. The topographic distribution of MB was determined in both male and female populations, as well as in pediatric and adult populations. Analyses were performed in IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 16.0).
Results: Across a five-year analysis from 2009 to 2014 (except 2012), 648 new cases of MB were recorded: 379 (58.5%) were male and 269 (41.5%) were female, with an M/F ratio of 1.4. The percentage of MB/NOS, Desmoplastic/nodular MB (DNMB), and Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT) was relatively more prevalent among males, while MB/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) proportions were higher in females. Over the study window, there was a general upward trend in ASIR of MB overall, except for PNET (percent change = 25.58 %).
Conclusion: Embryonal CNS tumors affected a broad range of age groups. Incidence rates were lowest in the third and fourth decades of life, declined from birth to 40 years, and then rose again with advancing age, indicating more than one incidence peak. These findings highlight male predominance and age-dependent heterogeneity that have implications for risk stratification, service planning, and future molecular-epidemiologic correlation.
Keywords: Medulloblastoma, Epidemiology, Age-standardized incidence rate; Pediatric neuro-oncology
