title: Exposure to ionizing radiation during dental X-rays is not associated with risk of developing meningioma: a meta-analysis based on seven case-control studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many observational studies have found that exposure to dental X-rays is associated with the risk of development of meningioma. However, these findings are inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between exposure to dental X-rays and the risk of development of meningioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched to identify eligible studies. Summary odds ratio (OR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to compute the risk of meningioma development according to heterogeneity. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to further explore the potential heterogeneity. Finally, publication bias was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven case-control studies involving 6,174 patients and 19,459 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Neither exposure to dental X-rays nor performance of full-mouth panorex X-rays was associated with an increased risk of development of meningioma (overall: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.70-1.32; dental X-rays: OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89-1.25; panorex X-rays: OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.76-1.34). However, exposure to bitewing X-rays was associated with a slightly increased risk of development of meningioma (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.28-2.34). Similar results were obtained in the subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Little evidence of publication bias was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the currently limited data, there is no association between exposure to dental X-rays and the risk of development of meningioma. However, these results should be cautiously interpreted because of the heterogeneity among studies. Additional large, high-quality clinical trials are needed to evaluate the association between exposure to dental X-rays and the risk of development of meningioma.
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Xu
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Luo
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Guang-Lei
authors: GL
authors: Huang
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Xin-Hai
authors: XH
authors: Yin
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Si-Yang
authors: SY
authors: Luo
authors: Gui Zhou provincial people's hospital, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
authors: Ju-Kun
authors: JK
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray; D014965:X-Rays