Increasing Incidence of Primary Brain Tumors in the Elderly in Florida

Based on data from the Florida Cancer Data System for the periods from 1981 through 1984 and 1986 through 1989, the incidence of primary malignant brain tumors in those aged 65 years or older rose steadily. The incidence of primary brain tumors in elderly Floridians has escalated independent of increased case ascertainment associated with the introduction of computed tomography scanning or magnetic resonance imaging and is observed in anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, and lymphoma, but not in low-grade astrocytoma.