skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism

Abstract

Cancer incidence was studied in 10,552 patients (mean age, 57 years) who received 131I therapy (mean dose, 506 MBq) for hyperthyroidism between 1950 and 1975. Follow-up on these patients was continued for an average of 15 years. Record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register for the period 1958-1985 identified 1543 cancers occurring 1 year or more after 131I treatment, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 1.06 (95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.11). Significantly increased SIRs were observed for cancers of the lung (SIR = 1.32; n = 105) and kidney (SIR = 1.39; n = 66). Among 10-year survivors, significantly elevated risks were seen for cancers of the stomach (SIR = 1.33; n = 58), kidney (SIR = 1.51; n = 37), and brain (SIR = 1.63; n = 30). Only the risk for stomach cancer, however, increased over time (P less than .05) and with increasing activity administered (P = not significant). The risk for malignant lymphoma was significantly below expectation (SIR = 0.53; n = 11). Overall cancer risk did not increase with administered 131I dose or with time since exposure. The absence of any increase in leukemia adds further support to the view that a radiation dosemore » delivered gradually over time is less carcinogenic than the same total dose received over a short time. Only for stomach cancer was a possible radiogenic excess suggested.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm (Sweden)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5187501
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 83:15; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8874
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; HYPERTHYROIDISM; RADIOTHERAPY; NEOPLASMS; RADIOINDUCTION; SIDE EFFECTS; DISEASE INCIDENCE; IODINE 131; PATIENTS; RADIATION DOSES; RISK ASSESSMENT; SWEDEN; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; DISEASES; DOSES; ENDOCRINE DISEASES; EUROPE; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; IODINE ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; MEDICINE; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; NUCLEI; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; RADIOISOTOPES; RADIOLOGY; SCANDINAVIA; THERAPY; 550604* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Therapy- (1980-); 560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man

Citation Formats

Holm, L E, Hall, P, Wiklund, K, Lundell, G, Berg, G, Bjelkengren, G, Cederquist, E, Ericsson, U B, Hallquist, A, and Larsson, L G. Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1093/jnci/83.15.1072.
Holm, L E, Hall, P, Wiklund, K, Lundell, G, Berg, G, Bjelkengren, G, Cederquist, E, Ericsson, U B, Hallquist, A, & Larsson, L G. Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism. United States. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/83.15.1072
Holm, L E, Hall, P, Wiklund, K, Lundell, G, Berg, G, Bjelkengren, G, Cederquist, E, Ericsson, U B, Hallquist, A, and Larsson, L G. 1991. "Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism". United States. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/83.15.1072.
@article{osti_5187501,
title = {Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism},
author = {Holm, L E and Hall, P and Wiklund, K and Lundell, G and Berg, G and Bjelkengren, G and Cederquist, E and Ericsson, U B and Hallquist, A and Larsson, L G},
abstractNote = {Cancer incidence was studied in 10,552 patients (mean age, 57 years) who received 131I therapy (mean dose, 506 MBq) for hyperthyroidism between 1950 and 1975. Follow-up on these patients was continued for an average of 15 years. Record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register for the period 1958-1985 identified 1543 cancers occurring 1 year or more after 131I treatment, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 1.06 (95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.11). Significantly increased SIRs were observed for cancers of the lung (SIR = 1.32; n = 105) and kidney (SIR = 1.39; n = 66). Among 10-year survivors, significantly elevated risks were seen for cancers of the stomach (SIR = 1.33; n = 58), kidney (SIR = 1.51; n = 37), and brain (SIR = 1.63; n = 30). Only the risk for stomach cancer, however, increased over time (P less than .05) and with increasing activity administered (P = not significant). The risk for malignant lymphoma was significantly below expectation (SIR = 0.53; n = 11). Overall cancer risk did not increase with administered 131I dose or with time since exposure. The absence of any increase in leukemia adds further support to the view that a radiation dose delivered gradually over time is less carcinogenic than the same total dose received over a short time. Only for stomach cancer was a possible radiogenic excess suggested.},
doi = {10.1093/jnci/83.15.1072},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5187501}, journal = {JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute; (United States)},
issn = {0027-8874},
number = ,
volume = 83:15,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}