Clinical Analysis of Thyroid Cancer in Adult Patients Exposed to Ionizing Radiation due to the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: 5‐Year Comparative Investigations Based on the Results of Surgical Treatment

Abstract

The aim of study was to compare clinical and pathologic findings of surgically removed thyroid tumors in adults with or without history of irradiation due to the Chernobyl accident. From 1990 to 2003, 2363 adults with no evidence of radiation influence in their history (group A) have undergone operation for thyroid nodules. During the same period, 311 patients (born before 1969) with strict evidence of Chernobyl irradiation also underwent operation (group B). Both groups were similar in age, sex, and preoperative examination. Group B represented three of the four official categories of people affected by the Chernobyl accident: 1-recovery operation workers; 2-people evacuated from the restricted area; 3-inhabitants of contaminated areas. The rate of thyroid carcinoma among all cases of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in group B--32.8% (102 patients) versus 27.2% (644 patients) in group A (p < 0.05). But a more distinct difference was observed in 1 and 2 categories of group B patients (the rate of cancer was, correspondingly, 54.8% and 47.8%;p < 0.01). The percentage of the invasive form of cancer (T4) was significantly higher in irradiated patients-39% versus 23% (p < 0.05) as were regional metastases (N1a,1b)--41% versus 19% (p < 0.01) and frequency of multifocality (33% versus 24%; p < 0.05). The most distinguished features were found in 1 category of group B: T4--in 47%, N1a-1b--in 62%, multifocality--in 41%. Our results suggest the irradiation as a cause of thyroid cancer in adult victims of Chernobyl and confirm the increasing aggressiveness of such tumors.

Chronic Contamination of Rats with 137Cesium Radionuclide: Impact on the Cardiovascular System

“…These include thyroid cancer in children [4,[20][21][22] and modifications of the cardiovascular system [7,14,23,24] and actual cardiovascular disorders, both in children [14,25] and in liquidators [26]. Only one experimental study has examined the cardiovascular effects of chronic contamination of animals by 137 Cs doses comparable to the post-accident exposure of the local population [17].…”

“…Several studies have reported that the youngest children in the contaminated areas are developing thyroid cancer [4], bone disorders [5], and nervous and digestive system disorders [6,7]. As a few animal experiments have assessed the biological effects of chronic exposure to 137 Cs, we studied the results of 137 Cs contamination of rats on various physiological systems.…”

DIAGNOSIS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Quantification of cancer risk of each clinical and ultrasonographic suspicious feature of thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Of these, 235 studies were retrieved for further investigation, and 41 studies (14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54) met the final selection criteria and were included in the analysis. All 41 studies were observational studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1989 and 2012.…”

ret/PTC1 and ret/PTC3 in thyroid tumors from Chernobyl liquidators: comparison with sporadic tumors from Ukrainian and French patients

“…It has been reported previously that thyroid cancer in liquidators was significantly more aggressive than in adults with no history of irradiation (Cherenko et al 2004). However little is known about the pathological and molecular characteristics of Chernobyl liquidators' thyroid carcinoma.…”

“…All patients in the liquidator group in this study were Ukrainians and presented an official certificate of recovery work. However, no information could be obtained concerning their individual irradiation status (Cherenko et al 2004). All subjects in NI Ukranian patient group lived outside the 'officially contaminated' areas and there is no evidence that they were exposed to contamination from Chernobyl.…”