Review: Non-malignant Brain Tumors

Here is what we have learned from Non-malignant Brain Tumors:

• The major rationale for making benign and borderline CNS tumors reportable is:
  • Benign and borderline CNS tumors cause disruption of normal function similar to that caused by malignant CNS tumors.
  • Location of a CNS tumor may have as much effect as tumor behavior (benign or malignant) for morbidity and mortality.
• CNS tumors, whether benign or malignant, produce clinical effects by similar mechanisms of mass effect, hemorrhage, seizure activity, and edema.
• At the request of the Brain Tumor Working Group (BTWG) in January 2003, NAACCR established a Benign Brain Tumor subcommittee of their Registry Operations Committee. The subcommittee was to develop procedure guidelines needed in registry operations when non-malignant CNS tumors were included in data collection efforts.
• In 2003, both SEER and COC agreed to make reporting of non-malignant brain tumors a requirement with a common implementation date for cases diagnosed January 1, 2004 and later.
• The term "brain-related tumor" means a listed primary tumor (whether malignant or benign) occurring in any of the following sites:
  • The brain, meninges, spinal cord, cauda equina, a cranial nerve or nerves, or any other part of the central nervous system.
  • The pituitary gland, pineal gland, or craniopharyngeal duct.
• Some important casefinding sources include:
  • Disease indices
  • Surgery logs
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Radiation oncology
  • Neurology clinics
  • Medical oncology
  • Autopsy reports
  • Pathology reports
• The central registries that do not currently collect non-malignant CNS tumors will have to make sure that their reporting law requires them to include these cases beginning with cases diagnosed January 1, 2004.