title: Digit ratio (2D:4D) in primary brain tumor patients: A case-control study.
abstract: The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) reflects prenatal estrogen and testosterone exposure, and is established in utero. Sex steroids are implicated in development and progression of primary brain tumors.
  
  
  
  To investigate whether there is a link between 2D:4D ratio and primary brain tumors, and age at presentation.
  
  
  
  Digital images of the right and left palms of 85 primary brain tumor patients (age 56.96±13.68years; 71% women) and 106 (age 54.31±13.68years; 68% women) gender and age matched controls were obtained. The most common brain tumor diagnoses were meningioma (41%), glioblastoma (20%) and pituitary adenoma (16%). Right and left 2D:4D ratios, and right minus left 2D:4D (Dr-l) were compared between patients and controls, and were correlated with age.
  
  
  
  Right and left 2D:4D ratios were significantly lower in primary brain tumor patients relative to controls (t=-4.28, p<0.001 and t=-3.69, p<0.001, respectively). The Dr-lwas not different between brain tumor patients and controls (p=0.27). In meningioma and glioma patients, age at presentation correlated negatively with left 2D:4D ratio (rho=-0.42, p=0.01 and rho=-0.36, p=0.02, respectively) and positively with Dr-l(rho=0.45, p=0.009 and rho=0.65, p=0.04, respectively).
  
  
  
  Right and left hand 2D:4D ratios are lower in primary brain tumor patients relative to healthy individuals suggesting greater prenatal testosterone and lower prenatal estrogen exposure in brain tumor patients. Greater age at presentation is associated with greater Dr-land with lower left 2D:4D ratio of meningioma and glioma patients. Due to small sample size our results should be considered preliminary and interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: a.bunevicius@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Adomas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Sarunas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamasauskas
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vytenis Pranas
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Deltuva
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Arimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamasauskas
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Albertas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sliauzys
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu street 4, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Robertas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: 2D:4D; Brain tumor; Glioma; Meningioma; Pituitary adenoma