April 25, 2012

Frequent Dental X-Rays Linked to Most Common Brain Tumor

Michael Schulder, MD

 

People who received frequent dental x-rays in the past have an increased risk of developing a meningioma, the most commonly diagnosed primary brain tumor, according to a recent study published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
 
Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, studied information from 1,433 patients who were diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 20-79 years.  The researchers also studied information from a control group of 1,350 individuals who had similar characteristics, but who had not been diagnosed with a meningioma.
 
Individuals who reported receiving bitewing exams, (which uses an x-ray film held in place by a tab between the teeth), on a yearly or more frequent basis were 1.4 to 1.9 times as likely to develop meningioma as controls. Full Post - to Detail View

November 11, 2011

Largest Study Shows No Link Between Cell Phones and Brain Tumors

Michael Schulder, MD

According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, there is no link between long-term use of mobile phones and brain tumors or tumors of the central nervous system.  One of the largest and longest studies of its kind, Danish researchers found no evidence that the risk of brain tumors was raised among approximately 360,000 cell phone subscribers over an 18-year period.

While this study may put us more at ease, there are still measures one can take to reduce any risk there might be by either not talking for long periods with the cell phone to the ear or by using an earpiece or speaker.  By using these methods, any risk of brain tumor formation from cell phone use can be essentially eliminated.

In reality, the biggest danger from cell phones may not be from brain cancer, but rather from using cell phones while driving.  The risks incurred with cell phone use while driving, whether it is texting, looking at emails, or even holding a phone to one’s ear, are much higher than any theoretical risk of getting a brain tumor.  Common sense and medical studies show this to be the case.

 

Full Post - to Detail View

July 07, 2011

Mary Tyler Moore's Meningioma Tumor Surgery

Michael Schulder, MD

As reported in the news recently, actress Mary Tyler Moore had surgery to remove a benign tumor called a meningioma, a tumor that occurs outside of the brain. These tumors grow from the lining of the brain, inside the skull, known as the dura mater, making them less severe of a problem than tumors that arise within the brain itself.  Moreover, most meningiomas are benign tumors, meaning they almost never spread outside of the head, and patients can be cured by surgery. In the United States, about 10,000 people a year are diagnosed with a meningioma.

While most meningiomas can be treated with surgery, not all meningiomas can be removed safely. If the tumor appears attached to critical structures such as the brainstem or optic nerves, in some cases it is much better for the surgeon to remove only as much of the tumor as can be done safely. As meningiomas usually grow slowly, performing a “subtotal removal” may relieve a patient’s symptoms for many years. 

An excellent alternative for many patients is to be treated with a non-invasive method called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This technique, invented 60 years ago, uses highly focused radiation beams to treat small tumors in one or several treatment sessions. Nearly 95 percent of the time, patients with meningiomas who receive SRS will have their tumor controlled.

Additionally, not all meningiomas are benign. Full Post - to Detail View