In plain language
This letter reports 18 informally collected cases of brain and head tumours in interventional cardiologists, radiologists and electrophysiologists; 11 of 12 with known side were left-sided. The authors stress this may be chance and call for systematic data collection.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Editorial or commentary, Case report or series
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists, Interventional radiologists, Electrophysiologists
- Size
- n = 18 cases
- Where
- Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Sweden
- Topics
- Brain tumorsCancer risk
- Summary based on
- a web page
What it found
The authors have collected 18 cases of brain or head tumours in interventional physicians, including 12 glioblastomas.
Key figures: 18 cases (12 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), 5 other brain tumours, 1 parotid)
Where tumour side was known, most tumours were on the left side of the head.
Key figures: 11 of 12 (92%) left-sided
Both previously reported Canadian cases were later confirmed as left-sided GBM, making all six known cases left-sided at that point.
Key figures: 6 of 6
The authors acknowledge the cases could be chance and that causation cannot be established from these reports.
The authors call for systematic collection of cancer data through journals, national societies, and cath lab directors.
Limits to keep in mind
Informal case collection by email with no denominator, no comparison group and incomplete laterality data; prone to reporting and selection bias, so no risk estimate or causal inference is possible.
Related research summaries
- SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Brain and Neck Tumors Among Physicians Performing Interventional Procedures (2013, Case report or series)
- Brain and Neck Tumors among Physicians Performing Interventional Procedures; American Journal of Cardiology (2013, Case report or series)
- Aegrescit medendo: orthopedic disability in electrophysiology, call for fluoroscopy elimination, review and commentary (2022, Editorial or commentary)
- Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: a narrative review of health effects and novel approaches to ensure radiation safety (2025, Narrative review)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from a web page of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.