Brain and other CNS tumours - UK incidence statistics

Tumours of the brain and other parts of the central nervous system (CNS) are grouped according to their behaviour as either malignant or non-malignant (the latter group includes tumours that are benign or of uncertain or unknown behaviour). This page contains incidence statistics for malignant brain and other CNS tumours only, unless otherwise stated. Incidence data is presented by age, and for trends over time. Prevalence data is also presented.

The ICD code for malignant brain and other CNS tumours are ICD-10 C70-C72. The ICD-10 codes for non-malignant brain and other CNS tumours are D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

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By age and sex

Table 1.11-4 shows the number of new cases and incidence rates for brain and central nervous system tumours by sex for the UK and its constituent countries.

Table 1.1: Malignant Brain and other CNS Tumours (C70-C72), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2008

England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland United Kingdom
Male Cases 2,265 140 242 76 2,723
Crude Rate 8.9 9.6 9.7 8.7 9.0
AS Rate 8.0 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.1
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 7.7 7.0 7.5 6.7 7.8
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 8.4 9.8 9.6 10.5 8.4
Female Cases 1,710 113 190 49 2,062
Crude Rate 6.5 7.4 7.1 5.4 6.6
AS Rate 5.4 6.1 6.0 4.7 5.5
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 5.2 5.0 5.1 3.4 5.2
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 5.7 7.3 6.8 6.1 5.7
Persons Cases 3,975 253 432 125 4,785
Crude Rate 7.7 8.5 8.4 7.0 7.8
AS Rate 6.7 7.2 7.1 6.6 6.7
AS Rate - 95% LCL* 6.5 6.3 6.5 5.5 6.5
AS Rate - 95% UCL* 6.9 8.1 7.8 7.8 6.9

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*95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS rate

In 2008 there were 4,785 new cases of malignant brain and other CNS tumours diagnosed in the UK. The crude rate shows this equates to around 8 for every 100,000 people (Table 1.1). In addition, there were around 4,552 non malignant brain and other CNS tumours diagnosed in the UK1-4.

It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing a malignant brain and other CNS tumour is 1 in 130 for men and 1 in 173 for women in the UK. This was done using the AMP method.5 Statistics on the lifetime risk of developing a range of other common cancers are available from the risk section of our website.

Malignant brain and other CNS tumours can occur at any age (Figure 1.1).1-4 There are two peaks in incidence; one in childhood, and then a second, much larger peak in people in their 70s. During childhood, malignant and non-malignant brain and other CNS tumours together form the second most common group of cancers (after leukaemias), accounting for around a quarter of all tumours diagnosed in children. Further information on malignant brain and other CNS tumours and other childhood cancers are available from the Childhood cancer section of our website

Figure 1.1: Malignant Brain and other CNS Tumours (C70-C72), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2006-2008

cases_crude_brain1.swf

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Over one-half (54%) of all malignant brain and other CNS tumours occur in people aged 60 years and over. Males and females have similar rates up to around age 35, after which age the rates are higher in males. The overall male:female ratio is 13:10.

Section last updated 19/07/2011

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Trends over time

Interpretation of the incidence trends for malignant brain and other CNS tumours is made difficult for several reasons, including changes to coding practices and coding classifications over time and the introduction of new, more accurate diagnostic techniques. A national brain tumour registry for England is currently being piloted and should provide more detailed and consistent information in the future.7-8

In Great Britain the age-standardised incidence rates for malignant brain and other CNS tumours have increased by 27% in men and 24% in women between 1975-1977 and 1989-1991. What proportion of this increase is artefactual rather than real is uncertain. The introduction of computed tomography scanning in the 1970s and magnetic resonance imaging in the 1980s is likely to account for some of the increase, particularly in the older age groups. Since the early 1990s, the incidence rates have remained fairly constant (Figure 1.2)1-4.

Figure 1.2: Malignant Brain and other CNS Tumours (C70-C72), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, Great Britain, 1975-2008

inc_asr_gb_brain.swf

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The UK incidence trends for malignant brain and other CNS tumours are shown in Figure 1.31-4.

Figure 1.3: Malignant Brain and other CNS Tumours (C70-C72), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 1993-2008

inc_asr_uk_brain.swf

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Section last updated 19/07/2011

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Prevalence

Prevalence data relate to those people in the UK population who were alive on a specific date having previously been diagnosed with cancer. The latest analysis shows that on 31st December 2006, around 9,700 people were alive up to ten years after being diagnosed with a malignant brain and other CNS tumour 6. Table 1.2 shows the one, five and ten year prevalence by sex for malignant brain and other CNS tumours.

table showing prevalence of brain and CNS tumours

Section last updated 30/06/2010

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References for brain and other CNS tumours incidence

  1.  Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2008, England. (PDF 544KB) Series MB1 no.39. 2010, National Statistics: London.
  2.  Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, 2011. Cancer Registrations in Wales 2008
  3.  ISD Scotland. 2011, Information and Statistics Division, NHS Scotland.
  4.  Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence and Mortality. 2011
  5.  Sasieni PD, Shelton J, Ormiston-Smith N, Thomson CS, Silcocks PB  What is the lifetime risk of developing cancer?: the effect of adjusting for multiple primaries. Br J Cancer, 2011. 105(3): p. 460-5.
  6.  National Cancer Intelligence Unit (NCIN) One, Five and Ten Year Cancer Prevalence (June 2010)
  7.  National Cancer Intelligence Unit (NCIN) Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumours – developing a national tumour registry
  8.  Eastern Cancer Registry and Information Centre (ECRIC), National Brain Tumour Registry