Pediatric brain tumors in a 10-year period from 1986 to 1995 in Yamaguchi prefecture: epidemiology and comparison with adult brain tumors.

The epidemiology of pediatric brain tumor was studied in a 10-year period from 1986 to 1995 in Yamaguchi prefecture. The total number of pediatric brain tumors was 83, and the incidence was 2.5/100, 000/year, which did not change during the period. The sign most frequently seen was intracranial hypertension, whereas focal signs were less frequent. Although asymptomatic cases increased in this period, outcomes did not improve. Significant differences between pediatric and adult cases were the percentage of male patients (70.0 vs. 43.7%), tumor location on the midline (59.0 vs. 20.8%) and tumor location in the posterior fossa (44.6 vs. 26.3%). The midline location of many pediatric brain tumors results in the absence of focal signs, which delays the diagnosis and makes surgery difficult.