Epidemiology of surgically treated primary spinal cord tumors in Miyagi, Japan

Data for spinal cord tumors have not been collected in the past on a population-based level in Japan. The objective of the study was to provide detailed estimates of the population-based incidence of surgically treated primary spinal cord tumors in Japan.

Incidence of primary spinal cord tumors was estimated from patients treated surgically between 2008 and 2010 in Miyagi Prefecture. The overall incidence of spinal cord tumors was calculated, as well as the individual incidence rates according to age group, gender, pathology and tumor location.

Of the primary spinal cord tumors identified (n = 112), 98% were nonmalignant. The overall incidence of spinal cord tumors was 1.60/100,000 person-years with an incidence of 1.77/100,000 in males and 1.45/100,000 in females. The incidence rate was highest in the age group of 60-64 years (3.04/100,000). Schwannoma accounted for 56% and meningioma accounted for 13% of the tumors. The histological type with the highest incidence was schwannoma (0.90/100,000), followed by meningioma (0.20/100,000).

Due to the high incidence of schwannomas, the overall incidence of spinal cord tumors is higher in Japan than in Western countries, and Japanese males have a higher incidence than females, different from that observed in Western countries.