INCIDENCE OF LEUKAEMIA AFTER EXPOSURE TO DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION IN UTERO

Journal Article · Sat Nov 26 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Brit. Med. J.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.5212.1539· OSTI ID:4110103

Brown, W M.C.; Doll, R; Hill, A B

Evidence of the leukemogenic effect on the fetus of exposure to ionizing radiations in utero has been sought by comparing the leukemia mortality in a group of children whose mothers were known to have been irradiated during the relevant pregnancy with that expected from the corresponding sex-and-age specific national mortality rates. Pregnant women who received diagnostic irradiation directed toward their abdomen or pelvis between 1945 and 1956 were identified in the records of the radiological departments of eight hospitals in London and Edlinburgh. Information about the date of birth and sex of the child was obtained from the corresponding maternity records. If the child left the hospital alive, his full name and the first names of his father were obtained from the local register or, in a few instances, from the Central Register of Births. The children who had died of leukemia were discovered by comparing the children's names with the list of names of all the children who had died of leukemia in Britain between 1945 and 1958. Altogether information was obtained about 39,166 liveborn children whose mothers were known to have been subjected to abdominal or pelvic irradiation during their pregnancy. Among their children, nine were discovered to have died of leukemia before the end of 1958. The expected number was estimated to be l0.5, There was no evidence of any disproportionate occurrence of leukemia among the children who had been most heavily irradiated nor among the children who had been irradiated early in intrauterine life. Published data on the leukemogenic effect of irradiation in utero are conflicting. It is concluded that an increase of leukemia among children due to radiographic examination of their mother's abdomen during the relevant pregnancy is not established. (auth)

• Research Organization: Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-008537
• OSTI ID: 4110103
• Journal Information: Brit. Med. J., Journal Name: Brit. Med. J. Vol. Vol: No. 5212
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
FETUSES
LEUKEMIA
LIFETIME
MAN
MEDICINE
RADIOGRAPHY