Eight hundred eighty-seven children with brain tumors were identified by the SEER registries (1973-1980). Twenty-five percent were low-grade supratentorial astrocytomas, medulloblastomas were 23%, cerebellar astrocytomas 12%, high-grade supratentorial astrocytomas 11%, brainstem gliomas 9%, and ependymomas 8%. The worst survivals were in children less than 2 years of age, and the best were in those aged 10 to 14 years. Five-year survivals of children with cerebellar astrocytomas were 91%, low-grade supratentorial astrocytomas 71%, high-grade supratentorial astrocytomas 35%, medulloblastomas 39%, ependymomas 28%, and brainstem gliomas 18%.