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Cancer incidence in the U.S. radiologic technologists health study, 1983–1998
Author(s) -
Sigurdson Alice J.,
Doody Michele Morin,
Rao R. Sowmya,
Freedman D. Michal,
Alexander Bruce H.,
Hauptmann Michael,
Mohan Aparna K.,
Yoshinaga Shinji,
Hill Deirdre A.,
Tarone Robert,
Mabuchi Kiyohiko,
Ron Elaine,
Linet Martha S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.11444
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , incidence (geometry) , confidence interval , thyroid cancer , epidemiology , breast cancer , gynecology , physics , optics
BACKGROUND Workers exposed to low doses of radiation can provide information regarding cancer risks that are of public concern. However, characterizing risk at low doses requires large populations and ideally should include a large proportion of women, both of which rarely are available. METHODS Among 90,305 radiologic technologists in the U.S. (77% women) who were followed during 1983–1998, data concerning incident cancer occurrence was obtained from mailed questionnaires and from death records. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were computed using age‐specific, gender‐specific, race‐specific, and calendar year‐specific cancer rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. RESULTS The SIR for all cancers in both genders combined was 1.04 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.00–1.07; n = 3292 technologists). Female technologists had an elevated risk for all solid tumors combined (SIR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.10; n = 2168 women) and for breast cancers (SIR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.09–1.23; n = 970 women), melanoma (SIR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.43–1.89; n = 181 women), and thyroid cancers (SIR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.24–1.83; n = 107 women). Male technologists experienced a decreased risk for solid tumors (SIR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85–0.98; n = 755 men); however, melanoma (SIR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.00–1.79; n = 56 men) and thyroid cancers (SIR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.29–3.59; n = 17 men) were increased. Among both genders, the risks were decreased for buccal cavity/pharyngeal cancers (SIR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55–0.90; n = 54 technologists), rectal cancers (SIR = 0.62; 95% CI 0.48–0.76; n = 53 technologists), and lung cancers (SIR = 0.77, 95% CI, 0.70–0.85; n = 307 technologists). CONCLUSIONS The elevated risk for breast cancer may have been related to occupational radiation exposure. The observed excesses of melanoma and thyroid cancers may reflect, at least in part, earlier detection among medical workers with easy access to health care. Cancer 2003;97:3080–9. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11444