Some epidemiologic aspects of neoplastic diseases in Israeli immigrant population. III. Brain tumors

Abstract

Data are presented on the distribution of all newly diagnosed brain tumors in Israel between 1960 and 1964. The mean annual incidence among Jews was 4.4 per 100,000 for malignant tumors with a male/female ratio of 1.4:1, and 2.4 per 100,000 for benign tumors with a sex ratio of 0.6:1. The incidence among the Arabic segment of the population was considerably lower, probably due to underdiagnosis. Malignant tumors were significantly higher among European and Israeli born residents compared with both the Asian and African born. Similar differences were noted with regard to benign tumors but these were only of borderline significance. Glioblastoma multiforme constituted 40% of all malignant tumors, increasing from 11% in childhood to 58% in older patients. Medulloblastoma and astrocytoma were the dominant tumors in childhood. Meningioma constituted 72% of all benign tumors and close to 24% of all tumors combined.

Incidence and long term survival of children with intracranial tumours treated in Denmark 1935-1959

“…The mean annual incidence of 25 per 106 children with newly diagnosed brain tumours is in agreement with incidence studies or cancer registry materials from the last 10 years (Doll et al, 1966;Cohen and Modan, 1968;Marsden and Steward, 1968;Bjelke, 1970;Doll et al, 1970;Percy et al, 1972;Stewart et al, 1973;Teppo et al, 1975;Young and Miller, 1975;Schoenberg et al, 1976;Heiskanen, 1977 material from the period in question (Doll et al, 1966;Doll et al, 1970;Teppo et al, 1975), the annual incidence rates in the present study are a little lower than in some other countries (Canada, Israel, New Zealand) but close to the rates for the other Scandinavian countries, England, Holland, Scotland, and the USA. Our study is retrospective, but the social system in Denmark ensures that sooner or later all children with symptoms of a brain tumour are admitted to hospital and reported to the Cancer Registry.…”

“…The operative mortality is similar to that of other series from that time (Odom et al, 1956;Bergstrand et al, 1958;Weickmann, 1969) and the survival rate is similar to that in more selected series of single histological tumour types (Gol, 1962(Gol, , 1963Matson, 1969;McFarland et at., 1969;Weickmann, 1969;Geissinger and Bucy, 1971;Chatty and Earle, 1971;Lassiter et al, 1971;Coulon and Till, 1977). 36% of the children are alive after at least 15 years of observation and most of the survivors lead a normal social life.…”

Thyroid cancer in Israel.

“…The lack of difference in disease incidence among distinct ethnic groups in Israel, in contrast with other tumour types studied (Tulchinsky and Modan, 1967;Shani, Modan, Steinitz and Modan, 1966;Cohen and Modan, 1968;Mass and Modan, 1969) is consistent with the findings in other communities. Thus, no difference between White and Negro patients was noted in the 10 city study in the U.S. (Dorn and Cutler, 1959).…”

“…From the Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Tel Hashomer Government Hospital, Israel Received for publication April 29, 1969 PREVIOUS studies (Tulchinsky and Modan, 1967;Shani, Modan, Steinitz and Modan, 1966;Cohen and Modan, 1968;Mass and Modan, 1969) indicated a marked difference in the ethnic distribution of various tumour categories in Israel. The present report summarizes a comparison of this kind with regard to cancer of the thyroid.…”

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PREVIOUS studies (Tulchinsky and Modan, 1967;Shani, Modan, Steinitz and Modan, 1966;Cohen and Modan, 1968; Mass and Modan, 1969) indicated a marked difference in the ethnic distribution of various tumour categories in Israel. The present report summarizes a comparison of this kind with regard to cancer of the thyroid.

METHOD

Records of all newly diagnosed patients with cancer of the thyroid in Israel, during the 6 year period of 1960-65, were obtained through a detailed hospital search.

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