HEAD INJURIES AS A CAUSE OF BRAIN TUMORS

This literature is performed in support of a proposed research study that will investigate the relationship between head injury and the subsequent development of brain tumor. The study hypothesis will be that head injuries lead to the subsequent development of brain tumors.

The Issue of A Relationship Between Head Injuries and the Subsequent Development of Brain Tumors

Statistics indicate an apparent increase in the incidence of brain tumors (Larsen, 1993, pp. 10241025). A disagreement exists among experts, however, as to whether the increase is real or whether the apparent increase is the result of improved reporting methods and diagnosis (Posner, 1993, pp. 261262). Disagreement also exists with respect to risk factors associated with the development of brain tumors (Kuijten and Bunin, 1993, pp. 277288). Some authorities consider head injuries as a predisposing factor in the development of brain tumors at some future point in the lives of injured persons, while other authorities discount the role of head injuries (Larsen, 1993, pp. 10241025).

Research Relevant to the Issue of HeadInjuries As A Cause of the Subsequent

Five studies involving the relationship between head injuries and the subsequent development of brain tumors are reviewed. These studies are reviewed in the chronological order of their conduct.

Annegers, Laws, Kurland, and Grabow [1

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1, 349351) examined one single individual with brain tumor. The researchers concluded that the epidermoid tumor in the 41 year old male subject could have been caused by an earlier head injury (Demaerel, Wilms, Lammens, Nuttin, Plets, and Baert, 1991, 349). Epidermoid cysts are rare and benign tumors (Demaerel, Wilms, Lammens, Nuttin, Plets, and Baert, 1991, 349). This examination determined that the 41 year old male subject had suffered a head injury at the site of the epidermoid tumor 30 years prior to the development of the tumor (Demaerel, Wilms, Lammens, Nuttin, Plets, and Baert, 1991, 350). The researchers stated that it "is generally accepted that ET (epidermoid tumor) may also follow injury due to inclusion of epidermis (Demaerel, Wilms, Lammens, Nuttin, Plets, and Baert, 1991, 351). Such a general attribution, however, is not present in the literature, most studies reject any strong link between head injury and the subsequent development of brain tumors (Miller, 1994, pp. 101102). Further, it is important to note that Demaerel, Wilms, Lammens, Nuttin, Plets, and Baert (1991, 349351) based their finding on the examination of a single individual with a brain tumor. Black [1991] Black (1991, p. 1471) noted that br
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Plets Baert, Synthesis Literature, Kurland Grabow, Risch Howe, Martinsohn Wahrendorf, brain tumors, Tumors Statistics, Kuijten Bunin, LITERATURE Introduction, development brain, brain tumor, subsequent development, development brain tumors, primary brain, Tumors Five, head injuries, head injury, subsequent development brain, Peter McL, plets baert 1991, baert 1991, annegers laws, kurland grabow, nuttin plets baert, demaerel wilms lammens,
Approximate Word count = 1681
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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