Prenatal and postnatal medical conditions and the risk of brain tumors in children and adolescents: an international multicenter case-control study
Menée au Danemark, en Norvège, en Suède et en Suisse par entretiens auprès de 352 patients âgés de 7 à 19 ans et atteints de tumeurs cérébrales diagnostiquées entre 2004 et 2008, et auprès de 646 témoins, cette étude évalue l'association entre une exposition prénatale ou postnatale à des rayonnements ionisants liés à des actes de diagnostic médical et le risque de la maladie
Background: Previous studies have evaluated the effect of medical diagnostic radiation on brain tumors. Recent cohort studies have reported an increased risk associated with exposure to head CT scans. Methods: Information regarding medical conditions, including prenatal and postnatal exposure to medical diagnostic radiation, was obtained from CEFALO, a multicenter case-control study performed in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland through face to face interview. Eligible cases of childhood and adolescent brain tumors (CABTs) were aged 7 to 19 years, diagnosed between January 1, 2004 and August 31, 2008 and living in the participating countries (n = 352). The cases were matched by age, sex, and region to 646 population-based controls. Results: Prenatal exposure to medical diagnostic radiation and postnatal exposure to x-rays were not associated with CABTs. A higher risk estimate of CABTs, although not statistically significant, was found for exposure to head CT scan (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 0.82-4.22). The associations with head injury, febrile seizure, fever in the first 12 weeks, and general anesthesia were close to unity. Conclusion: Prenatal or postnatal medical conditions, including medical diagnostic radiation, were not associated with CABTs. Based on small numbers of exposed children, we observed a non-significant increased risk for CT scans of the head. Impact: We have presented additional evidence suggesting that exposure to head CT scan may be associated with the occurrence of CABTs.