The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has reported that the prevalence of glioma, the main type of brain cancer conceived as related to cell phone use, has remained fairly stable, according to US cancer incidence data. According to researchers, cell phone use increased considerably from 1992 to 2008 (from nearly 0% to almost 100% of the population); however, the US trends in glioma incidence did not reflect the rise.
Results of this study were published recently online in the British Medical Journal.
For the study, observed glioma incidence rates from 12 cancer registries in NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program from 1992 to 2008 were compared to projected rates based on risks observed in 2 European studies (the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Interphone study and a study in Sweden published in 2011). Incidence of glioma for the duration of the study period remained generally constant in all age groups. The Interphone study projected slight risk increases among a small number of heavy users; however, these were not statistically distinguishable from observed rates. In contrast, projections based on the Swedish study were at least 40% higher than, and incompatible with, the actual rates.
Continued observation of glioma rates is recommended by researchers for a number of reasons, including changing usage patterns and technology. Furthermore, tumor latency may be longer than has been observed to date.
Source: NCI.