title: Nationwide Population-Based Incidence and Survival Rates of Malignant Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors in Korea, 2005-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCTs), although rare, are thought to occur more frequently among Asians. However, a recent population-based study revealed no differences in GCT incidence between Asians and Caucasians. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the incidence and survival rates of CNS GCTs using the national cancer incidence database, and to compare these rates to those in the United States and Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted CNS GCT patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2012 from the Korea Central Cancer Registry database. Age-standardized rates (ASRs), annual percentage change, and the male-female incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated. To estimate the survival rate, we used data for patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 and followed their cases until December 31, 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ASR for CNS GCT between 2005 and 2012 was 0.179 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 0.166 to 0.193), with an overall male-to-female (M:F) IRR of 2.95:1. However, when stratified by site, the M:F IRR was 13.62:1 for tumors of the pineal region and 1.87:1 for those located in nonpineal regions. The most frequent histologic type was germinoma (76.0%), and the most frequent location was the suprasellar region (48.5%). The 5-year survival rate of germinoma patients was 95.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence rate of CNS GCTs in Korea during 2005-2012 was 0.179 per 100,000, which was similar to that of the Asian/Pacific Islander subpopulation in the United States. Moreover, the CNS GCT survival rate in Korea was similar to rates in Japan and the United States.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.|Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Johyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeseon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Heon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Central nervous system; Germ cell tumor; Incidence; Korea; Survival