RESUMO
The greatest number (n = 1462) of new cases of childhood cancer was registered in the state of Mexico. Approximately 70 % were leukemias (50.8%), lymphomas (9.6%), and central nervous system tumors (CNST, 9.5%). The overall incidence was 111.2 (all rates per 1000 000 children/year), with the lowest incidences being those for lymphomas and CNST (9.9 and 10.3, respectively). The incidence of germ cell tumors was the highest (9.1) of the five jurisdictions studied. The male/female ratio was 1.1 and the greatest incidence was found for children less than five years of age. The incidence showed a trends to decrease, with the greatest reduction in the period 1996-2001 (average annual percent change: -7.4; CI 95% = -13.8, -0.4). Of the children with solid tumors, 56.4% were diagnosed as being in either stage III or IV.