Cohort study of the association of traumatic brain injury and risk of malignant brain tumors in civilian populations

A 2024 US study reported that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) had an increased risk of developing brain tumors. Studies among civilians have not replicated this association. A cohort study including 151,358 US adult civilians found that the risk of developing a malignant brain tumor was significantly higher among adults with moderate to severe TBI compared with those without or with mild TBI. The authors conclude that these findings suggest that additional evaluation and monitoring may be warranted for adult civilians with TBI to detect the potential development of malignant brain tumors.