Cell phone use and AN's

[GM]

Thanks for participating!

[alwaysanonymous]

i do not think it can cause an AN but i certainly think with the radiation, it can increase the risk and possibly make it grow

[Joy]

I think it is a good possiblity!  I never used a cell phone until 2000.  I hit my head in a wreck in 2002 no serious injury, just a bump according to CT Scan  .  Due to ear aches my AN tumor was discovered in 2003  .  So, it does make you wonder how on earth did that thing form to begin with, right? 

[Raydean]

We know that the existense of Acoustic Neuromas tumors have been known since the latter part of the 1700's with surgical removal attempted in the 1800's (see the information posted below, source of information  www.anseattle.org )  Since this predates the use of cell phones i don't believe that cell phones are the cause of AN's.

Best to All
Raydean

first description? AN was first described in the latter part of the 1700's (it would be interesting to learn whether DaVinci or other early anatomists had experience with AN or other brain tumors in their work; the fact of AN being reported in the 1700's might argue against the conjecture that AN is caused by cell phones or other modern devices)
understanding the tumor: by the mid-1800's, neurologists understood that patients with unilateral (on one side only) deafness, facial numbness, and progressive blindness due to "optic neuritis" (papilledema) had a tumor of the cerebellopontine angle
diagnosis in the 1800's: in the mid-1800's, the only intracranial tumors which could be reliably identified and located were those that involved either the motor strip or cranial nerves at the base of the brain
contributions to surgery knowledge: ANs played a major role in the early development of neurological surgery since they were readily diagnosable with signs and symptoms alone
first surgery? the earliest attempt at removal of an AN apparently was performed by Charles McBurney of New York in 1891, after whom the appendectomy incision is named; the ancient Incas and some other peoples attempted brain surgery and some of their patients survived (as evidenced by bone healing); however, it is not known to this writer whether any of the wounds from Incan surgery would be consistent with an effort to relieve symptoms of acoustic neuroma; are there ancient links in non-Western medicine? e-mail us at acoustic.neuroma@attbi.com
results of first surgery in 1891: doctors reported that after opening the suboccipital plate with a mallet and gouge, the cerebellum swelled massively, so much so that it became necessary "to shave off the excess"; no tumor was removed and the patient expired twelve days later

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[Becky]

Raydean,
Thanks for the great info!  I'm pretty sure my AN predated my cell phone use.  However, since AN's involve a mutation of a gene/malfunctioning gene, why couldn't a 'new' stimulus be involved with an 'old' problem?  It's just a thought.  I voted 'maybe' in the poll because often more than one thing can cause the same problem; and it hasn't been ruled out.  It's just a thought. 

...a mallet and gouge ?? 

I've also seen documentaries where some of the 1st operating tables were in churches upstairs from the sanctuary (not during the meetings, tho).  This was back when surgery was most certainly a death sentence, so maybe being in church offered some assurances (?)
Becky

[Sheryl]

My neuroma (on the 9th cranial nerve as opposed to acoustic on the 8th cranial nerve) was discovered before I started using a cell phone.  I really don't know what to think about the controversy, but I do limit my cell phone use just in case.