TABLE 2. Risk Factors (Known, Suggestive, Limited) Associated With Childhood Brain Tumors and Sympathetic Nervous System Tumors

Exposure or Characteristic Brain Tumors

Sympathetic Nervous System

Known

 Gender Type M:F Age-adjusted incidence (per million) M:F Age-adjusted incidence (per million)
 All brain tumors  1.2  25.9  1.1  7.9
 Astrocytomas  1.1  13.4
Primitive neuroectodermal tumors  1.7  5.0
 Other gliomas  1.0  4.4
 Ependymomas  2.0  2.1
 Age peak Infancy Infancy
 Race W:B = 1.2 W:B = 1.8
 Other factors Ionizing radiation
Genetic disorders
 Neurofibromatosis
 Tuberous sclerosis
 Nevoid basal cell syndrome
 Turcot syndrome
 Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Suggestive Maternal diet during pregnancy
 Cured meats
Sibling or parent with brain tumor increases risk
Limited Some paternal occupations, including aircraft industry; agriculture; electronics manufacturing; petroleum industry; painting; paper or Selected medications taken during pregnancy
 pulp mill work; printing; metal-related occupations; and occupations involving exposure to paint, ionizing radiation, solvents, and electromagnetic fields Fertility drug use before pregnancy
Use of products containing N-nitroso compounds, including beer, incense, makeup, antihistamines, etc Maternal smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy
Residential pesticides Selected paternal occupational exposures
Family history of epilepsy, mental retardation  Agricultural, pesticides
 Hydrocarbons, rubber, paint
 Dusts, electrical components

M:F indicates male-to-female ratio of incidence; W:B, white-to-black ratio of incidence.