Brain tumor risk factors

Brain tumor Microchapters
Patient Information
Overview
Classification Adult brain tumors Glioblastoma multiforme Oligodendroglioma Meningioma Hemangioblastoma Pituitary adenoma Schwannoma Primary CNS lymphoma Childhood brain tumors Pilocytic astrocytoma Medulloblastoma Ependymoma Craniopharyngioma Pinealoma Metastasis Lung cancer Breast cancer Melanoma Gastrointestinal tract cancer Renal cell carcinoma Osteoblastoma Head and neck cancer Neuroblastoma Lymphoma Prostate cancer
Causes
Differentiating Brain Tumor from other Diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Risk Factors

The cause of primary brain tumors is unknown. There are many possible risk factors that could play a role.

• Radiation therapy to the brain, used to treat brain cancers, increases the risk for brain tumors up to 20 or 30 years afterwards.
• Exposure to radiation at work or to power lines, as well as head injuries, smoking, and hormone replacement therapy have NOT been proven to be risk factors.
• The risk of using cell phones is hotly debated. However, most recent studies have found that cell phones, cordless phones, and wireless devices are safe and do not increase the risk.
• Some inherited conditions increase the risk of brain tumors, including neurofibromatosis, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome.
• Lymphomas that begin in the brain in people with a weakened immune system are sometimes linked to the Epstein-Barr virus.
• Exposure to some chemicals. These chemicals are formaldehyde used by pathologists and embalmers. Vinyl chloride used in the manufacturing of plastics and acrylonitrile used in the manufacturing of textile and plastics.
• A family history of brain cancer slightly increases the chance of developing brain cancer