THE ASSOCIATION OF THYROID CANCER AND PRIOR IRRADIATION IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD
Review of the literature has revealed a growing volume of reports associating irradiation of the thymus or of the head and neck area, during infancy and adolescence, with subsequent development of cancer of the thyroid. Of the 426 individuals with thyroid cancer seen at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute from 1944 through 1961, 216 replied to questionnaires concerning prior irradiation. Of this number, 70 reported a positive history of preirradiation. Acne was the most common reason given for therapy. The latent interval between irradiation and onset of cancer averaged 12 years. Both of the children under 10, thirteen of the 17 patients under 16, and twenty of the 33 patients under 20 years of age at time of diagnosis of thyroid cancer had a history of previous irradiation. The evidence gathered to date is provocative enough to suggest caution in the use of irradiation in the management of benign conditions of the head, neck, and chest in infants and children. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Houston
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-028738
- OSTI ID:
- 4694891
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Nuclear Medicine (U.S.), Vol. Vol: 4; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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