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Neoplasms following Irradiation of the Head¹

Division of Experimental Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York

In a group of 971 persons given X-ray treatments to the head in childhood, 3 thyroid carcinomas, 1 thyroid adenoma, 1 leukemia, 1 craniopharyngioma, and 2 mixed tumors of the salivary gland have occurred. No thyroid tumors were noted in 417 children treated with radium alone and only 1 thyroid adenoma was reported in 2746 untreated siblings. All thyroid malignancies occurred in a subgroup of 170 children treated in such a way that the pituitary and thyroid glands were probably irradiated. This lends support to the hypothesis that exposure of both glands may be highly carcinogenic. It also suggests that the thyroid glands of children under 15 are as sensitive to the oncogenic action of radiation as those of infants.

¹ This investigation was supported, in part, by USPHS research grants from the Division of Radiation Health (RH 00201) and from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM 09498).

² Formerly with the Division of Radiological Health, USPHS.

Received 6/15/65.