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Cellular Telephone Use and Risk of Intratemporal Facial Nerve Tumor
Author(s) -
Warren Hillary G.,
Prevatt Angela A.,
Daly Kathleen A.,
Antonelli Patrick J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200304000-00015
Subject(s) - medicine , risk factor , neuroma , oncology , pathology , surgery
Objectives/Hypothesis Microwave radiation exposure from cellular telephone use has been implicated in the development of intracranial tumors. The intratemporal facial nerve (IFN) is exposed to higher levels of cellular telephone radiation than intracranial tissues. The purpose of the study was to determine whether cellular telephone use is associated with an increased risk of IFN tumors. Study Design Case‐control using a structured telephone survey at an academic, tertiary‐care referral center. Methods Patients with IFN tumors (n = 18) were case‐matched with patients treated for acoustic neuroma (n = 51), rhinosinusitis (n = 72), and dysphonia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 69). Risk of facial nerve tumorigenesis was compared by extent of cellular telephone use and other risk factors. Results The odds ratio of developing an IFN tumor was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.2–1.9) with any handheld cellular telephone use and 0.4 (95% CI, 0.1–2.1) with regular cellular telephone use. No factors were associated with an increased risk for IFN tumor development. Conclusions Regular cellular telephone use does not appear to be associated with a higher risk of IFN tumor development. The short duration of widespread cellular telephone use precludes definite exclusion as a risk for IFN tumor development.