Introduction Recent case-control studies have suggested an increase in risk of non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) among mobile phone users. We explored the association in a case-control study conducted in Sardinia Italy in 1999–2004. Methods. Three hundred twenty two adult (age range 25–75) cases, first diagnosed with lymphoma along the study period, and 422 controls, randomly selected from population Registrars, frequency matched to cases by age, gender and local health unit of residence, participated to the study. In person interviews gathered information on data and age of purchase of a mobile telephone and duration of its daily use. We conducted unconditional logistic regression analysis in 322 lymphoma cases and 446 population controls, adjusting by age, gender and education.

Results Risk of lymphoma (all types; OR = 1.5; 95%CI 1.0 - 2.1), and particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (OR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.0 - 3.4) was elevated in subjects reporting use of mobile phones, but it decreased with duration of use, and it was more elevated for the most recent purchases and for age at first purchase³ 56 years.

Conclusions Our findings contradict some assumptions about the association between use of mobile phones and cancer risk. Information bias possibly played a role Overall, our study cannot provide support to the aetiological nature of the observed associations.