INCIDENCE AND TRENDS OF MALIGNANT BRAIN NEOPLASMS IN CHILDREN: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology of malignant brain neoplasms in children aged 1 to 14 years in the State of Paraná, Brazil, between 2020 and 2023, through a descriptive analysis of secondary data extracted from the DATASUS TABNET platform. A total of 792 hospitalizations with CID-10 code C71 were included, of which 58.3% occurred in boys and 46.9% in the 5–9-year age group; 77.9% of patients identified as white. The annual mean number of hospitalizations was 198, and 40 deaths were recorded, yielding an average mortality rate of 5.14 per 100,000 population. Temporal analysis revealed fluctuations in both hospitalizations and mortality throughout the study period. Comparison with national and international studies demonstrated similar patterns of male predominance and white race, suggesting common factors related to access to diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, despite limitations inherent to administrative databases, these findings underscore the urgent need for public policies focused on early diagnosis, equitable access, and the refinement of therapeutic strategies to reduce pediatric brain tumor morbidity and mortality.