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

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 73:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARCINOMAS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THYROID
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
WASHINGTON
WOMEN
ANIMALS
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BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
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RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
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560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man