The aim of this study is to describe the relevant aspects of the medical treatment and epidemiology of brain tumors in children between 1 and 15 years old in the State of Bahia, Brazil, first semester of 1995. A cross-sectional design was used for the survey of all new cases and preexisting cases of brain tumors diagnosed through neuroimage among all the children who completed these examinations. Forty eight out of 2 128 were diagnosed as brain tumors, 19 of which being incident cases. In the clinical epidemiological study, the prevalence was 2.3 percent, and the incidence was 0.9 percent. In the prevalent cases, males predominated (1.4:1), and the average age of 10-15 years old (65 %). Among the 1-4 years old group predominated incident cases. The astrocytoma was the most frequent brain tumor (41%), and the supratentorial localization predominated by 52%. The ataxia and/or paralysis of cranial nerve and the endocrine and/or visual disturbance symptomatic groups were the most prevalent (82% and 43%, respectively). We discuss the supratentorial localization and the adolescent group predomination in cerebral neoplasms in childhood.
brain tumor; clinical epidemiological study; prevalence; incidence; children
