Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Español
Email

Rare Brain and Spine Tumors

Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors begin in the brain or spinal cord. About 79,000 people are diagnosed a year with a primary CNS tumor and about 24,000 are malignant. View Cancer Stat Facts: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer to see the number of new cases, lifetime risk, and people living with CNS cancers in the United States. All primary CNS cancers are rare, so often disease information, support, and expert care is hard to find.

Learn about CNS tumor anatomy, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and who they affect to help you better understand your cancer so you can feel confident in your care. 


We would like to acknowledge the following authors who have contributed to writing and reviewing content included on the 12 rare CNS tumor types highlighted on the NCI-CONNECT website: Terri Armstrong, PhD; Orwa Aboud, MD; Lisa Boris; Brittany Cordeiro; Maria Fletcher Ruiz; Mark Gilbert, MD; Kristin Odom; Carlos Romo, MD; Christine Siegel; Brett Theeler, MD; Elizabeth Vera; Margarita Raygada, PhD. We would also like to acknowledge Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) for epidemiologic data on the 12 rare CNS tumor types.

Email