Etiology of brain and central nervous system cancer (C70–72) in Central and South America

The etiology of brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours is multifactorial and probably differs by tumour type and possibly according to the histology or cell type of origin. Although several risk factors have been studied extensively to provide evidence of their association with brain and CNS cancer, epidemiological research has been hindered by the rarity and diversity of these tumours [1]. Several occupations (physician, pathologist, anatomist, firefighter, and farmer) and occupational exposures (the use of plastics, rubber products, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, arsenic, mercury, and petroleum products) have been inconsistently associated with the risk of brain and CNS tumours [2–4]. Numerous environmental agents are suspected of playing a role in the development of these tumours, but their possible etiologic role has not yet been elucidated. In this section, a brief review of selected risk factors is presented.