Abstract
Patients often consult the internet if they suspect a brain tumor. Migraine and tension type headache have an active prevalence of round 50%. 96% of the general population has had some kind of headache during their lifetime. There are many possible exacerbating factors for precipitating or worsening headache. Consequently headache makes many people suspect a brain tumor. Nowadays when MRI and CT are widely available making earlier diagnosis of brain tumors possible, it has been discovered that in adults headache is rarely the most important or even existing symptom. Nelson and Taylor (1) find headache in 2% of brain tumor patients and Posti et al (2) found it in 20% of glioma patients as presenting symptom but never as a sole symptom. What is the information the patients get on the internet sites? In order to find out the author analyzed 36 webpages concerning headache and brain tumors by brain tumor and cancer societies, Neuro-oncology clinics, University clinics and general health information pages in 4 different languages (Finnish, English, Swedish and German). On 13 of these 36 pages headache was considered the presenting or main symptom. Particularly different cancer and brain tumor societies (8 of 9) explain that headache is the main symptom. On some pages it was concluded that brain tumor patients often have headache but headache patients seldom brain tumors. This is obviously true but does not help patients much. Consequently many of these information sites give patients somewhat vague or even misleading information. This will cause unnecessary anxiety, fear and visits to healthcare. We should strive to make patient information both more clear and more accurate. In order to accomplish this we need more information of the current situation.