Dental X-rays and Risk of Meningioma

(Hamming, 1973) If there were a list of the most feared diseases, cancer would probably reside among the top positions. [...]if a study postulates that a ‘factor x’ substantially increases the tumor risk (even if it is a benign one), a strong echo can be expected in the media. A more plausible explanation would be (besides the fact that the OR in finding #1 overestimates the risk) that the figures simply lack reliability, especially when they are based on small absolute numbers, as with finding #2. Since finding #3 corresponds to a much larger radiation dose as well as to higher statistical reliability, this result alone would lead to the conclusion that there is no (observable) effect. [...]finding #3, which describes a null result (with much larger biophysical and statistical impact), is somewhat hidden in the ‘discussion’ section. [...]an impression is produced which does not stand a closer inspection.