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Taiwan: Prior studies have suggested that frequent dental and medical screening is associated with an up to five-fold increase in the risk of benign brain tumors. However, Chinese researchers have found that no such association may exist between malignant brain tumors and diagnostic dental X-rays.

In order to evaluate the risk of developing begin and malignant brain tumors in relation to the frequency of dental X-rays received in oral and maxillofacial care, the researchers conducted two studies. The first study involved 4,123 patients diagnosed with benign brain tumors and 16,492 healthy controls, while the second study was conducted among 197 individuals with malignant brain tumors and 788 controls.

Patient data analysis demonstrated that the risk of benign brain tumors increased as the frequency of dental diagnostic X-rays increased. However, no significant association was found between malignant brain tumors and dental diagnostic X-ray exposure.

The study was conducted at the China Medical University in collaboration with several other scientific health institutions throughout China.

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, an estimated 69,720 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed in 2013 in the US, including both malignant (24,620) and benign (45,100) brain tumors. Meningiomas, which are primarily benign brain tumors, represent 34 per cent of all primary brain tumors, making them the most common primary brain tumor.