[Epidemiological features of brain tumors]

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Brain tumors represent a significant global health burden, accounting for 1.4% of all cancers and 2.4% of cancer deaths.
• Incidence rates vary geographically, with higher prevalence in developed nations. In Serbia, malignant brain tumors constitute 2.2% of all tumors and 3.2% of cancer deaths.
• The most common benign tumor is meningioma (predominantly in women), and the most common malignant tumor is glioblastoma (predominantly in men).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current understanding of brain tumor etiology.
• To highlight the need for further research into potential risk factors, particularly radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from cell phone use.
• To inform the development of future prevention and treatment strategies for brain tumors.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies on brain tumor incidence and risk factors.
• Analysis of existing data on the prevalence of different brain tumor types.
• Examination of the established link between ionizing radiation and gliomas.

Main Results:

• The overall incidence of brain tumors (benign and malignant) is reported as 18.71 per 100,000 person-years.
• Glioblastoma and meningioma are the most common malignant and benign brain tumors, respectively.
• The etiology of most brain tumors remains largely unknown, with ionizing radiation being the only confirmed environmental risk factor for gliomas.

Conclusions:

• Despite extensive research, the exact causes of most brain tumors are not fully understood.
• The potential role of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from cell phone use as a risk factor remains inconclusive and warrants further investigation.
• Continued research into brain tumor etiology is crucial for advancing prevention and treatment strategies for this serious disease.