Brain tumours: Incidence, survival, and aetiology

Abstract

Brain tumours in adults are a rare disease from which survival is generally poor compared to many other cancers. Reports of rising trends need to be cautiously interpreted as they may well be explained by changes in diagnostic and clinical practice. In childhood a different profile of tumour types is present and survival has improved over recent years and is higher than in adults. Apart from genetic predisposition, the most well established environmental risk factor for brain tumours is exposure to high doses of ionising radiation. Research into infections and immune factors may prove a fruitful avenue of investigation.