Traumatic Brain Injuries May Raise Risk of Future Malignant Tumors: Study

Authors stated additional research is needed to understand how TBIs raise brain tumor risks, and whether tumor location is linked to the site of injury.

While people who suffer concussions and severe head injuries are known to face lifelong health risks, new research indicates they may also face an increased risk of developing brain tumors.

According to findings published in the journal JAMA Network Open on August 25, adults who suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) had a 67% higher risk of developing a cancerous brain tumor compared to those who did not suffer a similar head injury.

Dangers of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when a person experiences a blow or jolt to the head, and even seemingly minor impacts, such as those from a concussion, can cause lasting damage. While the immediate effects may vary, research increasingly shows that the long-term consequences of TBIs can be severe and permanent.

A 2023 study by Harvard Medical School found that individuals who suffer a TBI face a significantly increased risk of developing treatment resistant depression. Separate research has linked TBIs to a higher risk of early death, with many patients struggling to regain full independence even after five years of medical care and rehabilitation.

Additional studies have drawn connections between head injuries and neurological conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dementia. Veterans, in particular, have been a focus of this research. Prior studies involving service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars found that those who suffered TBIs were not only more likely to develop brain tumors but also faced a higher risk of suicide, especially by firearm.

Researchers from the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, led by Dr. Sandro Marini, studied 151,000 adults in the U.S. using data from the Mass General Brigham academic medical center patient data registry from 2000 to 2023. This included adults over 18 years old with mild, moderate or severe TBI. They were compared with matched participants who did not have a history of head trauma.

Overall, 61,000 patients developed a mild TBI and 15,000 developed moderate to severe TBI. According to the data, the risk of developing a cancerous brain tumor was significantly higher among adults who suffered a head injury compared with those who didn’t.

People who sustained moderate to severe TBIs had a 67% higher risk of developing a malignant brain tumor compared to people who had not suffered a head injury. The incidence of brain tumor was 0.6% among moderate to severe TBI groups compared to 0.4% in the control group and the mild TBI group.

Researchers also conducted a meta-analysis using data from two other studies that included participants from across the U.S. After compiling all the data, the risk of brain tumor was still heightened among patients who suffered TBI, correlating to a 57% greater risk than those who had not suffered a TBI.

The study highlights a need for ongoing monitoring among people who have suffered head trauma, researchers said. This can help detect the development of brain tumors and prevent the progression of several types of cancer.

However, the team warned that more research is needed to help identify how TBIs increase the risk of the development of brain tumors. According to researchers, studies could focus on the connection between the location of the TBI and where tumors develop, as well as studying patients who suffer repeated head injuries.

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