THYROID CARCINOMA IN ATOMIC BOMB SURVIVORS HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI

Between December 1,1963 and December 31,1965, 39 cases of thyroid cancer were found by systematic, clinical examination of members of the Adult Health Study sample of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Twelve additional cases were identified in members of the sample who were not examined during the time period. The occurrence of thyroid cancer was higher in women than in men, and showed a significant increase with the proximity of atomic bomb exposure and increase in estimated radiation dose received. However, when the subjects were less than 20 years of age at exposure the rates were the same for both sexes. Thyroid cancer in this sample did not pursue an aggressively malignant course. Sixteen persons died with thyroid cancer but in no instance could death be attributed to thyroid cancer, despite the unequivocal histologic findings of malignancy.