Tumours of the central nervous system and serum sialic acid concentration in men and women.

In a population-based study serum sialic acid level was examined in relation to subsequent development of central nervous system (CNS) tumours (229 cases). Significantly increased sialic acid concentration was found in men with a malignant CNS tumour diagnosed within 8 years of analysis, compared with corresponding matched controls. These findings suggest that the tumour existed at the time of examination which is supported by a negative linear association between sialic acid level and the time from screening to tumour diagnosis.