The Japanese case–control study of acoustic neuroma and mobile phone use by Takebayashi et al (Occup Environ Med 2006; 63:802–7)although thoroughly conducted and analysed still has some important limitations. Acoustic neuromas have long latencies.1 2 The results of 16 studies published between 1985 and 20003 demonstrated tumour growth in 48–70 of patients, stable tumour volumes in 27–50 and involution in 2–10. The reasons for the diverse patterns of schwannoma growth are largely unknown. If exposure to microwaves from mobile phones influences growth rate, this might result in …