Epidemiology of the number of hospitalizations and absolute mortality by malignant neoplasm of the encephalon and other central nervous system structures from 0 to 14 years old in Brazil from 2010 to 2020.

OBJECTIVES: Malignant neoplasms of the encephalon and other central nervous system structures (MNECNS) present significant prevalence in children. Due to scientific scarcity and the subject's importance, this study aims to epidemiologically analyze the number of hospitalizations and absolute mortality by MNECNS in children. METHODS: Descriptive retrospective study about the number of hospitalizations and absolute mortality by MNECNS in Brazil from 2010 to 2020 in children from 0-14 years old. Data were obtained through the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian National Health System (DATASUS). This system shows limitations, such as the underreporting and the nondifferentiation of the neoplasm's histologic types. The variables utilized were the number of absolute deaths, hospitalizations, age group, sex, race, and region. There was no need for approval of the Ethics Committee for data collection since this study uses publicly available data. FINDINGS: In Brazil, 5424 absolute deaths and 32,458 hospitalizations due to MNECNS were reported in children from 0-14 years old, from 2010 to 2020. Southeast region had highest numbers of absolute deaths (39,14%) and hospitalizations (45,17%). White children represented the majority of absolute deaths (51,07%) and hospitalizations (40,76%). The age with most cases of either absolute deaths (35,9%) and hospitalizations (35,96%) was 5-9 years old. Boys represented 52,64% of absolute deaths and 55,99% of hospitalizations CONCLUSION: Between 0-14 years old, the hospitalizations and absolute deaths caused by MNECNS were more common in children of 5-9 years old, white individuals, boys, and in the Southeast of Brazil (which presented a higher overall number of cases). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]