A new study is surprising some experts by suggesting that childhood cancer rates are higher in the Northeast than anywhere else in the country.
But some specialists say it could just reflect differences in reporting.
The pediatric cancer rate in the Northeast is 179 cases per million children. The South has the lowest with 159 cases per million children.
Some say the differences arise because cases get under-reported in the South, and over-reported elsewhere. The Northeast also generally has better access to cancer centers.
Despite having the highest rate, researchers say fewer children die of cancer in the Northeast than in any other region.
Experts say the study has important information to bolster smaller studies, confirming that cancer is rare in children, but also more common in older kids, especially among white boys.