[Epidemiology of tumors of the central nervous system--influence of the autopsy rate on the incidence rate].

Using the records of the population-based National Cancer Registry (NCR) of the German Democratic Republic from 1968-1983 it was assessed that 5608 (28.9%) out of 19,413 registered primary CNS-tumors were diagnosed at autopsy only. This rate was especially high in meningiomas (53.8%), choroid plexus papillomas (40%) and melanomas (37.9%). 20.7% of the primary malignant melanomas of the CNS were clinically diagnosed as metastases to the CNS. The results show a considerable influence of the autopsy rate on the incidence-values of brain tumors. The autopsy rate should be taken into consideration when comparing incidence rates of CNS-tumors obtained in various regions.