Burden of Childhood Central Nervous System Tumours through the European Cancer Information System

Introduction

Although childhood cancers are rare, whereas represent an important cause of death in children. Central nervous system tumours (CNST) are the most common solid childhood tumours including heterogeneous histological subtypes. The European Cancer Information System (ECIS) integrates harmonized data from European Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs). Assessing geographical variations and temporal trends is essential for surveillance and foresight in cancer control. This study analyses spatial and temporal patterns of childhood CNST incidence in Europe using ECIS data.

Methods

Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) for children aged <15 years were obtained from ECIS, and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed. PBCRs updated to ≥ 2017 were included. Geographical analyses covered 2015–2021 (50 PBCRs, 19 countries). Temporal trends were assessed in 19 PBCRs with at least 10 consecutive three-year periods (1982–2023). Joinpoint regression estimated Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC).

Results

Astrocytoma was the most frequent subtype (20%–64%). Marked geographical variations were observed in overall CNST incidence, with ASIRs from 20 per million children-year (95%CI: 18.7–21.3) in Poland to 57.9 (95%CI: 49.7–66.1) in Emilia-Romagna. Astrocytoma ASIRs ranged from 9.1 (95%CI: 6.7–11.5) in Austria to 21.4 (95%CI: 17.2–25.6) in Croatia. Increasing trends were found in 12 PBCRs, with AAPCs between 2.4% (95%CI: 1.0–3.9) and 8.7% (95%CI: 1.6–16.5), mainly driven by other specified intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms in 11 PBCRs (AAPC: 7.6%–73.6%).

Conclusions

Childhood CNST incidence in Europe shows geographical variations and increasing trends in several PBCRs. ECIS supports on going childhood cancer monitoring; however, data for some countries such as France or Hungary are not updated, and for other such as Sweden or Luxembourg are not yet available, underscoring the need to strengthen data coverage across Europe.

Key messages

• Childhood central nervous system tumour incidence varies across Europe, with notable differences between population‑based cancer registries, and astrocytoma is the most frequent subtype.

• Data for several countries are either not updated or not available, underscoring the need to improve coverage among European population‑based cancer registries.