title: Epidemiology of primary CNS tumors in Iran: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although primary malignant CNS tumors are registered in the national cancer registry (NCR) of Iran, there are no available data on the incidence of the primary malignant or benign CNS tumors and their common histopathologies in the country. This study analyzed the 10-year data of the Iranian NCR from March 21, 2000 to March 20, 2010, including a systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  The international and national scientific databases were searched using the search keywords CNS, tumor, malignancy, brain, spine, neoplasm and Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,086 primary results, 9 papers were selected and reviewed, along with analysis of 10-year NCR data. The results showed that primary malignant brain tumors have an overall incidence of 2.74 per 100,000 person-years. The analysis of the papers revealed a benign to malignant ratio of 1.07. The most common histopathologies are meningioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma and ependymoma. These tumors are more common in men (M/F=1.48). Primary malignant spinal cord tumors constitute 7.1% of the primary malignant CNS tumors with incidence of 0.21/100,000.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that CNS tumors in Iran are in compliance with the pattern of CNS tumors in developing countries. The NCR must include benign lesions to understand the definitive epidemiology of primary CNS tumors in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Sina Trauma and Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Behzad
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
authors.forename: Vafa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Movaghar
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shokraneh
authors.forename: Soheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male