Underestimating Meningioma Incidence
Author Information
Author(s): Larjavaara S, Haapasalo H, Sankila R, Helén P, Auvinen A
Primary Institution: Tampere University Hospital
Hypothesis
Is the incidence of meningiomas underestimated?
Conclusion
The study found that the incidence of meningiomas is considerably underestimated, with corrected rates being a third higher than those reported by the cancer registry.
Supporting Evidence
- The corrected age-standardised meningioma incidence was 2.9/100,000 for men and 13.0/100,000 for women.
- The cancer registry covered only 64% of the identified meningioma cases.
- Under-registration was most common in cases aged 80 years and older.
Takeaway
Doctors might not be counting all the brain tumors called meningiomas, which means we think there are fewer than there really are.
Methodology
The study identified meningioma cases from multiple clinical data sources and compared them with the Finnish Cancer Registry data.
Potential Biases
Under-registration of cases, particularly in older patients and those not treated surgically.
Limitations
The study was limited by the small number of meningiomas identified.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on patients from the Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Finland, with a population of 447,051.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 55–83
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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