title: Primary CNS germ cell tumors in Japan and the United States: an analysis of 4 tumor registries.
abstract: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) are relatively rare. Their incidence has been considered to be higher in East Asia than in the United States. This study estimates the incidence of CNS GCTs in Japan and the United States, investigates gender discrepancies in each country, and describes treatment outcomes. Data on primary CNS GCTs from 4 databases were utilized: population-based malignant incidence data from (1) the Japan Cancer Surveillance Research Group (2004-2006; 14 registries), malignant and nonmalignant incidence data from (2) the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (2004-2008; 17 registries), and hospital-based observed survival data from (3) the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (1984-2000) and (4) the US National Cancer Data Base (1990-2003). Incidence rates per 100 000 for malignant GCTs were not statistically significantly different between Japan (males = 0.143, females = 0.046) and the United States (males = 0.118, females = 0.030). The malignant incidence-rate ratio was higher for pineal GCTs versus nonpineal (ie, the rest of the brain) GCTs in Japan (11.5:1 vs 1.9:1, respectively) and the United States (16.0:1 vs 1.7:1, respectively). In general, 5-year survival estimates were high: over 75% for all GCTs, and over 81% for germinomas, regardless of the type of treatment in either Japan or the United States. The incidence of primary GCTs is similar between Japan and the United States and has the same gender-based patterns by location. High rates of survival were observed in both countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Bridget J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibui
authors.forename: Takamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kayama
authors.forename: Etsuo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sobue
authors.forename: Bryan E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Palis
authors.forename: Therese A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dolecek
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kruchko
authors.forename: Herbert H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Engelhard
authors.forename: J Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Villano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult