Global patterns and trends in brain and central nervous system tumor incidence by histological subtype in 185 countries in 2022: a population-based study

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Abstract
Background: Brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors pose a major global health challenge. However, the distribution of histological subtypes remains limited. We aims to quantify the global, regional, and national incidence of brain and CNS tumors by histological subtype in 2022 and analyze variations across age groups and human development [Human Development Index (HDI)] levels. Methods: Data from GLOBOCAN and Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Volume X–XII were extracted. Nine histological subtypes of brain and CNS tumors were identified. The number of incident cases and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) for each histological subtype, stratified by age group (0–19 vs. ≥20 years) and HDI levels, and ASIR were calculated using the world standard population. Trends in brain and CNS tumor incidence by histological subtypes from 2003 to 2017 were assessed using Joinpoint regression. Findings: In 2022, an estimated 321 370 new cases of brain and CNS tumors were diagnosed globally (ASIR: 34.6 per million population). Astrocytic tumors accounted for the largest proportion (173 763 cases; ASIR: 18.5), followed by meningeal tumors (43 796 cases; ASIR: 4.6), gliomas of uncertain origin (43 094 cases; ASIR: 4.7), and oligodendroglia/mixed gliomas (22 673 cases; ASIR: 2.4). Age-specific distributions revealed astrocytic tumors predominant in both children/adolescents (37.4%) and adults (55.9%), whereas medulloblastoma was the most common subtype in children/adolescents (17.4%) and meningeal tumors in adults (14.6%). Considerable variations in subtype proportions and ASIR were observed across countries and in HDI levels. Temporal trends of brain and CNS tumor ASIR varied considerably among sex, regions and histology types Interpretation: Astrocytic tumors were the most prevalent histological subtype of brain and CNS tumors in 2022. These findings enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of brain tumors and underscore the need for tailored prevention and resource allocation strategies at national levels.

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