Astrocytoma - Childhood: Statistics


ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about how many people learn they have astrocytoma each year and some general survival information. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. To see other pages, use the menu on the side of your screen.

Approximately 4,000 CNS tumors are diagnosed each year in children under the age of 20, and about 35% childhood brain tumors are astrocytomas.

Children with a type of astrocytoma that is unlikely to spread, called noninfiltrating astrocytoma,  generally have a higher five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the tumor is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases. The five-year survival rate for children with low-grade astrocytoma is about 85%. For children with high-grade astrocytoma, the five-year survival rate is about 20%. There are additional factors that affect survival rates, including how much of the tumor can be removed during surgery.

Survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of children with of this type of tumor, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with astrocytoma. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this tumor. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's (ACS) publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2014 and the ACS website.
