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

BACKGROUND: Only few epidemiological data on primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Shanghai have been reported. METHODS: All cases of primary CNS tumors that were registered at Center for Disease Control 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. Histological data were collected from both CDC and Huashan Hospital. RESULTS: From 1973 to 2007, the five-year average incidence rate in urban Shanghai increased in both genders, especially in the elderly population. Joinpoint analysis showed the age-adjusted incidence rate for males increased first but then plateaued, whilst rates for females continued increasing over the 35 years. For the five-year status quo (2003-2007), rural had a higher age- adjusted incidence rate than urban populations, and females higher than males, especially those with advanced age. According to CDC (2003-2007) and Huashan Hospital (1951-2011), the two most common histological subtypes were neuroepithelial tumors (with male predominance) and meningiomas (with female predominance). CONCLUSIONS: In Shanghai, a steadily increased incidence rate of primary CNS tumors was observed in general, and in the elderly and female population in particular.