title: Cochlear implants in the etiopathogenesis of glioblastoma--an interesting observation or independent finding?
abstract: Various risk factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of glioblastomas including ionizing radiation. Recent evidence has suggested a possible association between exposure to nonionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) generated from mobile phones and wireless devices to cause malignant transformation of the neuroglial cells, albeit this is widely debated. In this report, we discuss the development of glioblastoma in two geopolitically unrelated patients, an elderly male from the United States and a middle-aged woman from Sweden, with long-standing cochlear implants (CI). We hypothesize that the low-frequency RF-EMF emanating from the transcutaneous link of the CI prosthesis over a long period has potentially triggered tumor development in these patients.
authors: Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 71103, Shreveport, LA, USA.
authors: Piyush
authors: P
authors: Kalakoti
authors: Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 71103, Shreveport, LA, USA.
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Murray
authors: Neurosurgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Pettersson-Segerlind
authors: Otorhinolaryngology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Smeds
authors: Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 71103, Shreveport, LA, USA. ananda@lsuhsc.edu.
authors: Anil
authors: A
authors: Nanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D040421:Cell Phone; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Cochlear implants; Glioblastoma; Ionizing radiation; RF-EMF; Radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation