New Study on Risk Factors for ANs

[Ellen K]

Hi All - I found this study fascinating. 
The abstract is here: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/10555/

[leapyrtwins]

Interesting. 

I fit two of the criteria - caucasian and managerial occupation.

Jan

[Jim Scott]

I fit most of the 'risk factors' mentioned but I also find this sentence at the conclusion of the study to be highly significant: "The epidemiology and risk factors of vestibular schwannoma are poorly understood"  I agree. 

Although I appreciate the work involved in this study and would welcome the research the doctors recommend, I also have to question the findings of this study as being much more than an educated guess - and I believe the doctors involved would probably admit that.  Still, any research into the epidemiology of ANs is appreciated, even if it isn't conclusive.   

Jim

[lrobie]

I always wondered about the frequent dental x-rays.  Along with my share of cavities, I was in a rollover car accident at the age of 14.  Flew out the back window and landed in a gravelled driveway.  Anyhow, broke two of my front teeth and have had tons of x-rays with that, crowns and replacement crowns...   

Lisa

[PaulW]

I read the risk factors and concluded that they were largely a result of socioeconomic conditions, and peoples behaviour.

Caucasian
If you are caucasian, the average caucasian in the US is better off financially, and has a higher level of education.
Being better off financially also gives you access to better healthcare and MRI machines.
If you are financially better off, you are more likely to visit a dentist regularly and get more dental X-Rays.
If you chip a tooth, you will get an xray and get it fixed. If you have a tooth ache, same thing.
If you are poor, you may not get that chipped tooth fixed, or you may wait until your tooth is so rotten that it is extracted without an xray.
There is a lot of missed diagnosis for AN's, and if you just accept what your doctor says there is a much higher chance that you will remain misdiagnosed for many more years. People in lower socio economic conditions are more likely to accept the opinion of an authority figure like a doctor. He is a doctor after all he should know!

Hayfever
There is a link between hayfever/asthma and a number of autoimmune diseases and the amount of exposure to allergens when you were a young child. If your house was clean, and you didn't  share your house with 5 unwashed dogs and 10 cats, and you didnt live on a farm, your chance of getting hayfever is higher.
Socioeconomic factors again influence the incidence of hayfever.

Managerial.
Yep I fit that category too.
We tell people what to do all day, we seek out answers to problems, and instruct our staff to follow instructions.
When we see a doctor, we are more likely to do something similar. We are more likely to take control, get a second opinion, research the internet, push for answers and get that MRI. If your in a managerial position youare  probably less likely to accept a misdiagnosis and are more likely to exhibit proactive behaviour.
As a manager you also have far better access to MRI's and healthcare
We also have the money to look after our teeth so we will end up with more xrays.

So while I am sure that these appear to be risk factors, it probably has more to do with the self selecting nature of AN patients.

[CHD63]

Very interesting study.

I fit all of the risk factors:  caucasian; professional career; massive doses of radium as a teenager & dental x-rays every six months from age 30 on; hay fever as a child/young person; family history of cancer.  Guess I was destined .....   

Clarice

[Tod]

Paul

Thanks for your post. You were gentler in your response that I would have been. I saw the article and just kind of gagged at the poor analysis, especially since it comes down to, "We don't really ahve a good answer, so give us money and we'll do another study."

-Tod

[leapyrtwins]

Paul -

some excellent points on self selecting nature.

Personally I still subscribe to the theory that ANs - like other things in life - just happen.  I truly don't feel there is any rhyme or reason as to why some of us are "gifted" with them.

I also feel that ANs are more prevalent that doctors and patients realize.  I believe that lots of people go to their graves undiagnosed since unless an AN causes "problems" most people don't typically get an MRI of their IACs.  And in addition, lots of the "problems" that do become evident can be attributed to other medical issues or aging (especially in the case of diminished hearing). 

Jan