Childhood brain tumor risk in relation to birth characteristics.
A population-based case-control study was conducted utilizing linked cancer registry and birth certificate data to examine potential associations between selected birth characteristics and the occurrence of brain tumors in children. Cases (n = 157) were those children ages 10 and under who were born in Washington state and who were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor between 1974 and 1986. Controls were randomly selected from the Washington State birth files and were matched 5:1 to cases on year and county of birth. A limited number of positive findings emerged from the study. Results suggested that high birthweight may be related to an increased risk of childhood brain tumor (odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0 for all histologies combined; OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.1 for astrocytomas). The risk of astrocytoma was also observed to be associated with older maternal age (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0) and a history of prior fetal death(s) (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.8).
Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104.
J C
JC
Emerson
K E
KE
Malone
J R
JR
Daling
P
P
Starzyk
D001722:Birth Order; D001724:Birth Weight; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors