Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 4/7/2010

Question
my husband's brother died of an astro, he has an oliog, and now my daughter has an olio in almost the same place....how can you say this doesn't run in the family????

Answer
I'm not saying it. I'm quoting all serious statistical studies that have been done on the subject. Two cases like this is not any sure evidence of a hereditary cause since they may just be an isolated coincidence. To determine if there are any hereditary factors involved you need to do extensive studies of all families of brain tumor patients to see if there is any INCREASE in the probability of brain tumors in such families (since everyone has a certain statistical risk/probability of getting a brain tumor unrelated brain tumors are sure to appear in the same family now and then so only an increase of the rate of such tumors in a family can indicate a hereditary cause for that family). Every statistical study so far has failed to show any such hereditary factors - which in fact is rather astonishing. In fact at present we have no idea at all of what causes malignant brain tumors. That is all I can tell you at present. What may be the truth tomorrow I do not know. Nor does anybody else. But discuss this with her doctor and ask for an investigation. Who knows what may be found?!



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