Incidence trends of vestibular schwannomas in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in 1987–2007

Abstract

Background:The reported incidence rates of vestibular schwannomas (VS) vary substantially, but it is unclear as to what extent the variation reflects differences in risk or recording practices. Our aim was to describe the incidence rates of VS in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden between 1987 and 2007.Methods:Comprehensive data were available from all registries only for the period from 1987 to 2007. An analysis of a longer time period (1965–2007) was conducted with the Norwegian and Swedish data.Results:The average age-standardised incidence rates during 1987–2007 varied from 6.1 per 1 000 000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.4–6.7) among Finnish men to 11.6 (95% CI, 10.4–12.7) in Danish men, and from 6.4 per 1 000 000 person-years (95% CI, 5.7–7.0) among Swedish women to 11.6 (95% CI, 10.5–12.8) among Danish women. An overall annual increase of 3.0% (95% CI 2.1–3.9) was observed when all countries and both sexes were combined, with considerable differences between countries. However, the practices of both reporting and coding VS cases varied markedly between countries and over time, which poses a challenge for interpretation of the results.Conclusion:The overall incidence of VS increased in all the four Nordic countries combined between 1987 and 2007, with marked differences between countries. However, the incidence rates more or less stabilised in the late 1990s, showing relatively constant incidence rates and even some decline after 2000.

Incidence of vestibular schwannomas in the United States

“…IRR incidence rate ratio (female:male), asterisk indicates statistically significant difference in incidence rates between genders . The incidence in Denmark is also higher than Finland, Norway, and Sweden [14]. An incidence similar to the US was found in a Canadian study [12].…”

“…We believe this represents the most accurate and complete estimate of the incidence of vestibular schwannoma in the US to date. The incidence of vestibular schwannomas varies internationally [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. International rates are age-adjusted to the world standard million and cannot be directly compared to rates adjusted to the US standard million.…”

Vestibular schwannomas in the modern era: epidemiology, treatment trends, and disparities in management

“…However, the incidence of VS varies with geographic region and time period, with worldwide rates ranging from 1 to 20 cases per million population per year. 18,23,51,52 Studies from Denmark have shown the incidence of VS to range from 0.78 to 1.24 per 100,000 population per year during the years 1976-1995, with a more recent study demonstrating the incidence to range from 0.3 to 2.3 per 100,000 per year between 1976 and 2008. 48,51 Studies have also shown differences in VS incidence between Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with rates ranging from 0.61 to 1.16 per 100,000 population per year.…”

“…48,51 Studies have also shown differences in VS incidence between Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with rates ranging from 0.61 to 1.16 per 100,000 population per year. 23 The incidence of VS has been shown to be increasing, likely due to the advancement in noninvasive imaging techniques. 37,48,51 As a result of earlier detection, tumor size at diagnosis has decreased from 3 cm during 1979-1981 to 1 cm during 2003-2005, consistent with the median size (1.6 cm) seen in this study.…”

Birth Size Characteristics and Risk of Brain Tumors in Early Adulthood: Results from a Swedish Cohort Study

“…Meningiomas are generally slow-growing benign tumors that arise from the meninges and are more common among women and in older ages. Intracranial neuromas are most frequently vestibular schwannoma (also called acoustic neuromas), a rare tumor that arises from the Schwann cells of the eighth cranial nerve (20,21). These are slow-growing benign tumors which may be present for many years before being diagnosed.…”