Lung cancer at autopsy in a-bomb survivors and controls, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1961–1970. I. Autopsy findings and relation to radiation

✍ Scribed by Robert W. Cihak; Toranosuke Ishimaru; Arthur Steer; Akira Yamada

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 632 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197406)33:6<1580::aid-cncr2820330617>3.0.co;2-r

✦ Synopsis

Previous studies indicated there was a probable increase of lung cancer in atom bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I n re-examination of this problem, lung cancer was found in 204 of 3778 autopsies on radiation exposed survivors and controls performed during 1961-1970. Using the W.H.O. classification, 32% were epidermoid, 19% small cell anaplastic, 29% bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, 9% bronchiolo-alveolar, and 1 1% other types of carcinoma. Small cell anaplastic carcinomas were definitely increased in irradiated persons compared to controls (relative risk 3.9; p < 0.5). Epidermoid and bronchogenic adenocarcinoma showed increased risk, but this was not statistically significant.

In this entire series, 89% were 60 years old or older; 67% were in men with ma1e:female ratios of 2.4: 1 for epidermoid, 2.9: 1 for small cell anaplastic, and 1.3:l for bronchogenic adenocarcinoma. No data were available for a study of the possible effect of internal irradiation. An analysis of the effect of smoking and occupation on the interpretation of single dose whole body ionizing irradiation as a cause of lung cancer will be reported separately.