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Ww. H. ADAMS: LATE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCESOF EXPOSURE TO RADIOACTIVE
gn nodule diagnosis in
RONGELA?P + SIFO
ymas have occurred in
th it is highly debatable
rmanyindicated occult
‘no predilection for age
the occurrence ofthese
arshallese. Most thyroid
ariety. The mortality of
39
Occult
cancers
cancers
(59%)
“
1
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l
] kek
5k
0
\
l
fl
Q
(10%)
7“
10
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20
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10
20
30
The accrual of cases with thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer in the exposed Rongelap
groupincludes those exposed in utero.
treated papillary thyroid canceris relatively low, about 4%, with those persons less than 40 years of
age at the time of diagnosis having a better prognosis.
The cumulative experience of benign plus malignant nodule development as a function of age
at exposure showsclearly the increased susceptibility of the younger population to nodule induction
(Figure 4). It was noted that the ratio of thyroid carcinomas to benign nodules was .15, somewhat
lowerthan the ratio of .30 reported following medical x-ray therapy (20).
it appears that there is an inverse correlation between the radiation dose absorbed by the
thyroid and the time after exposure for development of the benign adenomatous nodules (Figure 5).
However, since the thyroid-absorbed radiation dose was determined primarily by age at exposure
f=
a
283
‘enteeiediclt
ollicular carcinoma. The
\
population as a function of age at the time of exposure in 1954. The <10 year-old
crt
cal adenoma
|
YEARS AFTER 1954
oe
‘ently as 1976.
L
NN
iodules:
n group since 1957.
(25%)
(14%)
“
0
Figure 4.
exposed.
$ = PAPILLARY CANCER
>18 YR
2* KK*
ind 3 from Utink.
T 4
10-18 YR
6
hologists, two different
q
Oe
ot
oe
me
-
!
* = ? FOLLICULAR CANCER
5 f-
-
‘<1oyR_
UTIRIK
°
CUMULATIVE CASES WITH THYROID NODULES
ipl
> no propensity to cause
Follicular
TT
20 f-
sulated, are, with rare
| ace |
| IN 4
1 1954 |