Study type: Epidemiological study (observational study)

Case-control study on the use of mobile and cordless phones and the risk for malignant melanoma in the head and neck region epidem.

Published in: Pathophysiology 2011; 18 (4): 325-333

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Sweden to investigate the association of the use of mobile phones and cordless phones and the risk for malignant melanoma in the head and neck region.

Further details

The localization of malignant melanomas in the head and neck region was further divided into the temporal area including cheek and ear as well as other parts.
Study participants with exposure to mobile phones or cordless phones of one year or less before diagnosis were classified as unexposed.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 unexposed
Group 2 cumulative use of mobile phones: ≤ 128 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 3 cumulative use of mobile phones: ≤ 128 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 4 cumulative use of mobile phones: ≤ 128 h; > 10 year latency
Group 5 cumulative use of mobile phones: ≤ 128 h; > 1 year latency (group 2+3+4)
Group 6 cumulative use of mobile phones: > 128 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 7 cumulative use of mobile phones: > 128 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 8 cumulative use of mobile phones: > 128 h; > 10 year latency
Group 9 cumulative use of mobile phones: > 128 h; > 1 year latency
Group 10 cumulative use of cordless phones: ≤ 365 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 11 cumulative use of cordless phones: ≤ 365 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 12 cumulative use of cordless phones: ≤ 365 h; > 10 year latency
Group 13 cumulative use of cordless phones: ≤ 365 h; > 1 year latency
Group 14 cumulative use of cordless phones: > 365 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 15 cumulative use of cordless phones: > 365 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 16 cumulative use of cordless phones: > 365 h; > 10 year latency
Group 17 cumulative use of cordless phones: > 365 h; > 1 year latency
Group 18 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): ≤ 365 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 19 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): ≤ 365 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 20 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): ≤ 365 h; > 10 year latency
Group 21 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): ≤ 365 h; > 1 year latency
Group 22 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): > 365 h; > 1-5 year latency
Group 23 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): > 365 h; > 5-10 year latency
Group 24 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): > 365 h; > 10 year latency
Group 25 cumulative use of wireless phones (mobile and/or cordless phones): > 365 h; > 1 year latency

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Eligible 421 1,478
Participants 247 1,184
Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

Long-term mobile phone use of more than 10 years was reported by 57 cases, cordless phone use by 17 cases and in total wireless phone use by 67 subjects.
Overall, no association of the use of mobile phones and cordless phones and the risk for malignant melanoma in the head and neck region was found. However, in the most exposed area (temporal, cheek and ear) cumulative use of more than 365 h of mobile phone yielded in the > 1-5-year latency group odds ratio (OR) of 2.1 (CI 0.7-6.1) and cordless phone use gave odds ratio of 2.1 (CI 1.2-3.8). No interaction was found with established risk factors (such as fair hair colour, blue eyes, skin type 1 or 2 (never or sometimes tanned), severe sunburns as teenager).

Limitations (acc. to author)

The results must be interpreted with caution due to low numbers and potential methodological shortcomings in the study type of a case-control study.

Study funded by

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