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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Year Rate of New Cases — SEER 8 Rate of New Cases — SEER 12 Death Rate — U.S. 5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 2.24 2.46 - - 0.93 0.91 62.83% 56.72%
1976 2.35 2.49 - - 0.91 0.90 59.99% 57.59%
1977 2.74 2.51 - - 0.92 0.89 55.62% 58.45%
1978 2.57 2.53 - - 0.80 0.88 55.01% 59.30%
1979 2.53 2.56 - - 0.86 0.87 59.98% 60.14%
1980 2.65 2.58 - - 0.83 0.86 61.21% 60.97%
1981 2.28 2.61 - - 0.82 0.85 62.83% 61.78%
1982 2.33 2.63 - - 0.91 0.84 56.70% 62.59%
1983 2.34 2.65 - - 0.82 0.83 63.95% 63.38%
1984 2.45 2.68 - - 0.79 0.82 72.05% 64.16%
1985 2.46 2.70 - - 0.79 0.81 62.83% 64.93%
1986 3.33 2.73 - - 0.81 0.80 63.91% 65.69%
1987 3.05 2.75 - - 0.71 0.79 72.16% 66.44%
1988 2.98 2.78 - - 0.80 0.78 65.63% 67.17%
1989 2.87 2.81 - - 0.80 0.77 62.25% 67.89%
1990 3.14 2.83 - - 0.79 0.76 63.67% 68.60%
1991 2.98 2.86 - - 0.80 0.75 68.47% 69.30%
1992 3.18 2.89 3.06 2.88 0.74 0.75 67.59% 69.99%
1993 2.90 2.91 2.79 2.88 0.77 0.74 66.42% 70.66%
1994 2.82 2.94 2.68 2.89 0.73 0.73 77.73% 71.32%
1995 3.04 2.97 2.74 2.89 0.68 0.72 72.31% 71.98%
1996 2.98 2.99 2.79 2.90 0.74 0.71 76.58% 72.61%
1997 2.62 3.02 2.64 2.90 0.69 0.70 77.48% 73.24%
1998 2.86 3.05 2.79 2.91 0.68 0.70 77.08% 73.86%
1999 3.14 3.08 2.91 2.92 0.68 0.69 72.14% 74.46%
2000 3.15 3.11 2.81 2.92 0.68 0.68 73.88% 75.05%
2001 3.56 3.14 3.20 2.93 0.64 0.68 77.12% 75.63%
2002 3.48 3.17 3.13 2.93 0.71 0.68 74.68% 76.20%
2003 2.98 3.20 3.00 2.94 0.71 0.68 77.41% 76.76%
2004 3.11 3.22 3.05 2.94 0.68 0.67 73.43% 76.76%
2005 3.15 3.25 3.04 2.95 0.67 0.67 78.61% 76.76%
2006 2.80 3.29 2.76 2.96 0.64 0.67 79.16% 76.75%
2007 3.22 3.32 3.08 2.96 0.64 0.66 72.60% 76.75%
2008 3.25 3.35 2.97 2.97 0.65 0.66 75.37% 76.75%
2009 3.38 3.38 3.23 2.97 0.63 0.66 78.85% 76.75%
2010 3.70 3.41 3.34 2.98 0.60 0.66 74.56% 76.74%
2011 3.29 3.36 2.94 2.98 0.67 0.65 81.90% 76.74%
2012 2.83 3.32 2.65 2.99 0.70 0.65 77.73% 76.74%
2013 3.51 3.28 3.24 3.00 0.67 0.65 76.69% 76.73%
2014 3.20 3.23 3.06 3.00 0.68 0.65 74.85% 76.73%
2015 3.70 3.19 3.30 3.01 0.64 0.64 78.94% 76.73%
2016 2.63 3.15 2.61 3.01 0.67 0.64 79.06% 76.73%
2017 3.32 3.10 3.16 3.02 0.63 0.64 - 76.72%
2018 3.38 3.06 3.22 3.02 0.64 0.63 - 76.72%
2019 2.68 3.02 2.57 3.03 0.62 0.63 - 76.72%
2020 3.20 2.98 2.88 3.04 0.63 0.63 - 76.71%
2021 2.86 2.94 2.69 3.04 0.62 0.63 - 76.71%
2022 - - - - 0.59 0.62 - 76.71%

New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality.
All Races, Ages 0–19, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted.
Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.
The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data

New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.

5-Year
Relative Survival

75.6% 2014–2020

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of childhood brain and other nervous system cancer was 3.0 per 100,000 children per year. The death rate was 0.6 per 100,000 children per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and 2018–2022 deaths.

Did You Know? Video Series

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer?

Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

75.6%

5-Year
Relative Survival

75.6%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from childhood brain and other nervous system cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Additional Information

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For childhood brain and other nervous system cancer, 77.4% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is 78.4%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Localized
Confined to Primary Site		 77% 78.4%
Regional
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes		 11% 64.0%
Distant
Cancer Has Metastasized		 6% 53.0%
Unknown
Unstaged		 6% 80.6%

SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Combined Summary Stage

Additional Information

New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other childhood cancers, childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is fairly common.

Common Types of Childhood Cancer New Cases
Per 100,000		 Deaths
Per 100,000
1. Leukemia 4.8 0.5
2. Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer 3.0 0.6
3. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 1.2 0.1
4. Hodgkin Lymphoma 1.2 0.0
5. Testicular Cancer 1.1 0.0
6. Thyroid Cancer 1.1 0.0
7. Soft Tissue Cancer 1.0 0.2
8. Bone and Joint Cancer 0.9 0.2
9. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 0.7 0.1
10. Ovarian Cancer 0.7 0.0

Childhood brain and other nervous system cancer represents 15.9% of all new childhood cancer cases.

15.9%

SEER 22 Incidence 2017–2021 & U.S. Mortality 2018–2022, Ages 0–19. Rates are Age-Adjusted

Who Gets This Cancer?

Childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is slightly more common in boys than girls. The rate of new cases of childhood brain and other nervous system cancer was 3.0 per 100,000 children per year based on 2017–2021 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer (Ages 0–19)
Males
All Races 3.1
Hispanic 2.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Not Shown, <16 cases
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 2.5
Non-Hispanic Black 2.6
Non-Hispanic White 3.7
Females
All Races 2.9
Hispanic 2.4
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 3.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 2.2
Non-Hispanic Black 2.5
Non-Hispanic White 3.5

SEER 22 2017–2021, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<1 5.1%
1–4 25.6%
5–9 26.9%
10–14 24.0%
15–19 18.4%

Childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is most frequently diagnosed among children aged 5–9.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

8

SEER 22 2017–2021, All Races, Both Sexes

Who Dies From This Cancer?

Brain and other nervous system cancer is the leading cause of childhood cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 0.6 per 100,000 children per year based on 2018–2022 deaths, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer (Ages 0–19)
Males
All Races 0.7
Hispanic 0.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 0.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 0.6
Non-Hispanic Black 0.6
Non-Hispanic White 0.7
Females
All Races 0.6
Hispanic 0.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 0.8
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5
Non-Hispanic Black 0.6
Non-Hispanic White 0.6

U.S. 2018–2022, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<1 2.4%
1–4 13.3%
5–9 33.5%
10–14 26.9%
15–19 23.9%

The percent of childhood brain and other nervous system cancer deaths is highest among children aged 5–9.

Median Age
At Death

10

U.S. 2018–2022, All Races, Both Sexes

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new childhood brain and other nervous system cancer cases have not changed significantly over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been stable over 2013–2022. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival

Interactive Statistics with SEER*Explorer

With SEER*Explorer, you can...
  • Create custom graphs and tables
  • Download data and images
  • Share links to results

SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.

Explore Additional Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer Statistics

More About This Cancer

Cancer and the Brain

Figure: Brain Anatomy

Figure: Drawing of brain anatomy showing the supratentorial area (the upper part of the brain) and the posterior fossa/infratentorial area (the lower back part of the brain). The supratentorial area contains the cerebrum, lateral ventricle, third ventricle, choroid plexus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary gland, and optic nerve. The posterior fossa/infratentorial area contains the cerebellum, tectum, fourth ventricle, and brain stem (pons and medulla). The tentorium and spinal cord are also shown.

Brain and other nervous system cancer is the second most common type of childhood cancer. Although there are many types of brain and other nervous system cancer in children, malignant pilocytic astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and malignant gliomas make up the majority of all cases. This factsheet combines all types of childhood brain and other nervous system cancer.

Even when diagnosed with the same type of brain or nervous system tumor, symptoms and outcomes for children differ from adults.

Brain and other central nervous system cancer develops when abnormal cells form in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Abnormal cell growth forms tumors, which may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Both benign and malignant brain tumors need treatment. There are many types of childhood brain and other nervous system cancer, including:

Childhood brain and other nervous system cancer is described as untreated, in remission, or recurrent.

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about brain and other nervous system cancers.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Childhood Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/childbrain.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2024 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.