Spatio-temporal pattern of malignant neoplasm of brain in Fars province I.R.Iran (2011–2015): A population-based cross sectional study

Abstract Background Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with different prevalence in different genders, age groups and various parts of the CNS. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of malignant neoplasm of brain (C71) based on Fars population data. Methods This study was cross-sectional, carried out based on Fars population –based Cancer Registry (FPCR) data. Data was collected retrospectively reviewing all malignant neoplasm of brain patients’ records during a 5-year period (2011-2015). Age Standardized Incidence Rates (ASR) were calculated based on world population standards. To analyze the ASR time trends by gender, we carried out a chi-square goodness of fit test. Results Findings revealed that 1043 cases of malignant neoplasm of brain were registered, 438 (%41.9) of which were women. Malignant neoplasm of brain became the eighth malignancy in 2015 in both genders. Its incidence was higher in men (26.15/100000) than in women (19.45/100 000). There was an increasing but not significant trend from 2011- 2013 in both men and women (p=0.722, p= 0.478, respectively). The highest increase was in 2013 (ASR= 6.64 in men and ASR= 5.71 in women per 100,000). Conclusion Brain and other CNS tumors are an important source of cancer deaths around the world. Regional variations in incidence may provide clues leading to genetic and/or environmental causes as well as a basis for expanding knowledge about their epidemiology. This study demonstrated that the trend had been increasing in the years during which the study was conducted.