Epidemiological study (observational study)

Mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma risk in Japan epidem.

By: Takebayashi T, Akiba S, Kikuchi Y, Taki M, Wake K, Watanabe S, Yamaguchi N

Published in: Occup Environ Med 2006; 63 (12): 802-807

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The relationship between mobile phone use and the risk of acoustic neuroma was investigated in this Japanese population-based case-control study.

Further details

The study is part of the INTERPHONE project.
A subject was classified as a regular user of mobile phone if he had used it for at least 6 months.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: acoustic neuroma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- mobile communications
- analog mobile phone
- digital mobile phone
- PDC
- personal

Assessment

interview: start and stop dates for each mobile phone used, avarage duration and frequency of calls, use of cordless telephone (PHS)
calculation: cumulative lenght of use, cumulative call time

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	mobile phone use: no user
Group 2	mobile phone use: regular user
Group 3	cumulative length of use: < 4 years
Group 4	cumulative length of use: 4 - 7 years
Group 5	cumulative length of use: ≥ 8 years
Group 6	cumulative call time: < 300 h
Group 7	cumulative call time: 300 - 900 h
Group 8	cumulative call time: ≥ 900 h
Group 9	type of mobile phone used: analog and digital
Group 10	type of mobile phone used: digital only
Reference group 11	laterality: non-regular users or phone use on the side opposite the tumor
Group 12	laterality of tumor location versus mobile phone use: ipsilateral
Reference group 13	laterality : non-regular users or phone use on the same side as the tumor
Group 14	laterality of tumor location versus mobile phone use: contralateral

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 30–69 years
Observation period: December 2000 - November 2004
Study location: Japan (Tokyo)

Case group

Characteristics: acoustic neuroma, histopathologically or by MRI verified
Data source: brain surgery and otorhinolaryngology departments of hospitals in Tokyo

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area
- case:control = 1:2

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	120	647
Participants	101	339
Participation rate	84 %	52 %
Evaluable	97	330

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

5-year age group
sex
residential area
educational level, marital status

)

Results (acc. to author)

The study showed no increased risk of acoustic neuroma in association with mobile phone use. The risk was not increased with duration of use nor with cumulative call time. No signifcant association was found for ipsilateral use of a mobile phone (on the same side as the tumor occured).

Study funded by

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan

Comments on this article

Kundi M (2008): What can be learned from the Japanese study of mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma?
Takebayashi T et al. (2008): Authors reply: What can be learned from the Japanese study of mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma?

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