The occurrence of central nervous system malignancies is relatively low; however,
these tumors exhibit poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. On epidemiological
grounds, Hungary was placed in the last third among European countries: in the last
decade annually 750 to 1000 new cases were diagnosed and the number of deaths was
between 550 and 690, without any apparent trends. Age distribution analyses revealed
childhood peak and a higher peak at around 65 years of age. Histologically, heterogeneity
was apparent, but at least half of the cases were glioblastomas. The exact etiology
of adulthood brain tumors is mostly unknown. Among environmental exposures the effect
of ionizing radiation was confirmed, the identification of other potential risk factors
requires further examinations. 7-10 percent of brain tumors were hereditary tumor
syndromes (Li-Fraumeni, neurofibromatosis, sclerosis tuberosa, von Hippel-Lindau,
Gorlin- Goltz). Therefore, genetic testing is recommended for families where the diagnosis
of brain tumor is suspected.
