Epidemiological study (observational study)

Handheld cellular telephones and risk of acoustic neuroma epidem.

By: Muscat JE, Malkin MG, Shore RE, Thompson S, Neugut AI, Stellman SD, Bruce J

Published in: Neurology 2002; 58 (8): 1304-1306

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A hospital-based case-control study of acoustic neuromas and the usage of handheld cellular phones was conducted in the USA.

Further details

Usage of a cellular phone on a regular basis was defined as having a subscription to a cellular phone service.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: acoustic neuroma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- personal

Assessment

Type of assessment: Individual
interview: cellular telephone use, subcription, number of years of use, minutes/hours used per month, year of first use, manufacturer, reported average monthly bill, which hand used to hold the cell phone

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	cell phone use: 0 years
Group 2	cell phone use: 1-2 years
Group 3	cell phone use: 3-6 years
Reference group 4	cell phone use: 0 hours/month
Group 5	cell phone use: 1-2.5 hours/month
Group 6	cell phone use: > 2.5 hours/month
Reference group 7	total hours of use: 0
Group 8	total hours of use: 1-60
Group 9	total hours of use: > 60
Group 10	cell phone handedness left - tumor laterality left
Group 11	cell phone handedness left - tumor laterality right
Group 12	cell phone handedness right- tumor laterality left
Group 13	cell phone handedness right - tumor laterality right

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: ≥ 18 years
Observation period: 1997-1999
Study location: USA (New York University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Medical Center)

Case group

Characteristics: acoustic neuroma, histologically confirmed

Control group

patients with nonmalignant conditions
Selection:
- hospital-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- ethnicity

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	90	86
Participants	90	86
Evaluable	90	86

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
education
study center, occupational categories, date of interview

)

Results (acc. to author)

18 cases (20%) and 23 controls (26,7%) reported regular use of handheld cellular telephones.
The risk of acoustic neuroma was not associated with use of cellular telephones. The tumor more often occurred on the contralateral than ipsilateral side of the head.

Limitations (acc. to author)

No conclusions can be drawn for long-term users, since the study was conducted about 10 years after introduction of cellular telephone technology.

Study funded by

Public Health Service (PHS), USA
Wireless Technology, Inc., USA

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