Incidence of thyroid cancer in women in relation to previous exposure to radiation therapy and history of thyroid disease

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6302405

McTiernan, A M; Weiss, N S; Daling, J R

Female residents of 13 counties of Western Washington, in whom papillary, follicular, or mixed papillary-follicular thyroid carcinomas had been diagnosed between 1974 and 1979 were interviewed regarding their medical and reproductive histories and past exposure to radiation treatments. For comparison, a random sample of women from the same population was interviewed. Women who had received radiation treatments to the head or neck prior to 5 years before interview were 16.5 times (95% confidence interval . 8.1-33.5) more likely than unexposed women to develop cancer. The relative risk (RR) was highest for papillary cancer (19.4) but also was elevated substantially for follicular and mixed papillary-follicular tumors. Women first irradiated at age 19 years or younger had a much higher RR than did women irradiated at age 20 or older. Regardless of prior radiation exposure, women who ever had had a goiter were at increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. Women who had ever developed a goiter had 17 times the risk of developing follicular cancer and almost 7 times the risk of developing papillary cancer as compared with women who never had had a goiter. Risk of thyroid cancer was elevated even among women who had had a history of goiter many years prior to diagnosis. A history of thyroid nodules was also a risk factor for papillary and mixed thyroid cancer. Neither a history of hypothyroidism nor hyperthyroidism was found to increase the risk of thyroid cancer.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 6302405
• Journal Information: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States) Vol. 73:3; ISSN JNCIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOMAS
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FEDERAL REGION X
FEMALES
GLANDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
THYROID
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASHINGTON
WOMEN