The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for brain and spinal cord tumors in the United States are for 2009:

• About 22,070 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord (12,010 in males and 10,060 in females) will be diagnosed. These numbers would likely be much higher if benign tumors were also included.

• About 12,920 people (7,330 males and 5,590 females) will die from these tumors in 2009.

Both adults and children are included in these statistics.

Overall, the chance that a person will develop a malignant tumor of the brain or spinal cord in his or her lifetime is less than 1% (about 1 in 150 for a man and 1 in 185 for a woman).

Survival rates can vary widely, depending on the type of tumor. Survival rates for some of the more common types of brain and spinal cord tumors are discussed in the section, "How are brain and spinal cord tumors treated?"

Last Medical Review: 11/12/2009
Last Revised: 11/12/2009