Download Relationship between Use of Mobile Phones and Brain Tumors in Children

ETSU Pediatrics CAT
Relationship between Use of Mobile Phones and Brain Tumors
in Children and Adolescents
Cassie Hudson, DO and Amanda Jackson MD
Date of Initial Appraisal: 12/19/13
Clinical Question: Is there an increase risk of malignant brain tumors with use of
cellular phones in children and teenagers?
Clinical Bottom Line
1. In a multi-center case-control study conducted in Denmark, Sweden,
Norway and Switzerland, no increase risk of malignant brain tumors was
found in children and adolescents with increased mobile phone use.
2. No increase risk in brain tumor based on location of highest amount of RF
exposure from cell phone use.
3. A slight statistically significant increase risk in duration of mobile phone
subscription and malignancy could not be considered as outside of
expected results based on chance of a few positive findings.
Evidence Summary
1. Multicenter case-control study
2. Study population included 7-19 year old patients in Denmark, Sweden,
Norway, and Switzerland in 2004-2008.
3. All children with diagnosis of intracranial CNS tumor aged 7-19 eligible with
exclusion of NF or tuberous sclerosis patients.
4. 2 random controls matched to every one patient enrolled, with final study
numbers 352 case patients, 646 control subjects
5. Outcomes included time since first use of mobile phone, cumulative usenumber of subscriptions, duration of calls, number of calls, tumor location
relative to area of highest radiofrequency exposure
6. Exclusion of confounding factors ensured by testing potential confounding
factors against case and controls
© 2014 ETSU Department of Pediatrics, Johnson City, TN 37614
ETSU Pediatrics CAT
7. Statistical analysis performed using conditional logistic regression models.
8. Overall no statistically significant increase risk among regular mobile phone
users for brain tumors. (OR 1.36, CI 0.92-2.02)
9. Slightly statistically significant increased risk for mobile phone users with
longest subscription and brain tumors (OR 2.15, CI 1.07-4.29)
Comments
1. Cell phone usage has increased significantly since this study was performed
in 2004-2008.
2. Studies using interviews can be subject to bias and further studies to
investigate possible association may need to be more prospective.
3. Findings in this study demonstrate no definitive associated risk between
mobile phone use and malignant brain tumors, however, study size was
limited and small positive findings should be further investigated given the
significant increased use of mobile phones in children in the last few years.
Reference
Aydin, et al. Mobile Phone Use and Brain Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter
Case-Control Study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2011.
CAT editor: Dr. Karen E. Schetzina
Last updated: December 19, 2013
© 2014 ETSU Department of Pediatrics, Johnson City, TN 37614