We studied the incidence of intracranial rumours in Lothian Region in
south-east Scotland in 1989-90. Among 106 patients resident in the Reg
ion, 60 (57%) were of working age (15-64 years). All but two cases (97
%) were histologically confirmed. The average annual incidence of cere
bral glioma in this age range was 5.9 (95% CI 3.8-8.0) per 100 000 per
year. Cerebral glioma will affect approximately 2100 people of workin
g age in the UK every year.