What is it about?

We used global health data to trace how brain and other central nervous system tumors affected children and teenagers in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. We looked at new cases, deaths and years of healthy life lost. Death rates fell globally, but some regions with fewer healthcare resources saw increases. The study also examines differences between age groups and estimates how global rates may change by 2036.

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Why is it important?

An estimated 40,500 new cases of brain and other central nervous system tumors occurred among people under 20 worldwide in 2021. The study brings together more than three decades of estimates to show how the burden has changed across countries and stages of childhood. Globally, death rates fell more sharply in younger children than in teenagers. Among those aged 15-19, rates of new cases increased. The estimates for teenagers help health services plan for this group alongside younger children. Regional trends also differed. Some regions with fewer healthcare resources experienced rising death rates while the global rate declined, identifying places where diagnostic and treatment services need particular attention. The model projects that the global death rate could fall by more than one-third by 2036 compared with 2021. This provides a longer view for planning specialist services. Investment in diagnostic imaging, referral pathways and treatment capacity needs to account for regions where progress has been slow or reversed.

Perspectives

Timely diagnosis and specialist treatment should be available to children with brain tumors in every region. Where access is limited, improving the route from an initial consultation to specialist care deserves sustained investment. Treatment capacity also needs to be supported by postoperative care and services that help children and families through treatment and follow-up. More complete cancer records are essential to understanding local needs. A low recorded rate can partly reflect missed diagnoses or incomplete reporting. Strengthening local registries would make regional comparisons more informative and help health services follow changes in their own populations. The differences between younger children and teenagers also deserve continuing attention. Planning for childhood brain tumors needs to cover the full age range studied here, including older teenagers. Following age-specific and regional trends over time would help identify groups whose needs are growing and assess whether improvements are reaching them.

Zhaoyang Feng
Capital Medical University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Global Burden and Temporal Trends of Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, Cancer Innovation, August 2026, Tsinghua University Press,
DOI: 10.1002/cai2.70079.
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