EMF-Portal | Trends in acoustic neuroma and cellular phones: is there a link?

Trends in acoustic neuroma and cellular phones: is there a link? epidem.

By: Nelson PD, Toledano MB, McConville J, Quinn MJ, Cooper N, Elliott P

Published in: Neurology 2006; 66 (2): 284-285

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The time trends in registered rates of acoustic neuromas and other benign cranial nerve neoplasms from 1979 - 2001 in England and Wales were compared with trends in cellular phone use.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(standardized incidence rate (SIR))

Exposure

Assessment

list: active cellular phone subscribers in UK

Population

Group:

men
women

Characteristics: acoustic neuroma and other benign cranial nerve neoplasms

Observation period: 1979 - 2001

Study location: UK (England and Wales)

Data source: National Cancer Registry

Results (acc. to author)

Annual registrations of cases of acoustic neuroma increased from 84 to 374 cases from 1979 to 1997 and then fell to 262 cases in 2001. Age-standardized incidence rates increased from 2.4 to 7.6 per million until 1997 and then fell to 5.5 per million in 2000. Cellular phone use started in the United Kingdom in 1985, increased slowly until 1992, more rapidly to 1997, before substantial growth to 2005. The registration trends did not lag behind trends in cellular phone use.
The results did not support the hypothesis that the incidence rates reflect trends in cellular phone use. The trends in acoustic neuroma are most likely explained by changes in reporting, ascertainment and diagnosis of the cases.

Study funded by

Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK

World Health Organisation (WHO), Genf, Switzerland

Hardell L et al. (2013): Pooled analysis of case-control studies on acoustic neuroma diagnosed 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 and use of mobile and cordless phones

Lehrer S et al. (2011): Association between number of cell phone contracts and brain tumor incidence in nineteen U.S. States

Schoemaker MJ et al. (2005): Mobile phone use and risk of acoustic neuroma: results of the Interphone case-control study in five North European countries

Lönn S et al. (2004): Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Acoustic Neuroma