Did the Chernobyl atomic plant accident have an influence on the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in the province of Olsztyn?

Abstract

Material and methods: A study of incidence rates of thyroid carcinoma was conducted in Olsztyn province from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003 within its former boundaries, in spite of Poland’s new administrative division. The criteria for register entry were as follows: residence in Olsztyn province, newly-diagnosed case of thyroid malignancy in the given calendar year, and histopathological verification in the Department of Anatomical Pathology of the District Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn. The study of selected risk factors comprised patients included in the register of thyroid carcinoma. For that purpose a questionnaire was prepared which covered information about the Chernobyl accident: place of residence, time of carcinoma diagnosis after the accident, and iodine prophylaxis during the accident. The control group consisted of 589 healthy subjects selected based on age and place of residence.
Results: In the years 1993-2003, 462 (395 women and 67 men) cases of thyroid cancer were registered. The questionnaire study comprised 297 patients with thyroid carcinoma and 589 healthy subjects. Study subjects from both the affected and control groups stayed mainly in their place of residence during the Chernobyl accident (97.28% v. 94.24%). Thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed on average 13.58 ± 2.61 years after irradiation. There were no significant differences in iodine prophylaxis during the Chernobyl accident. Lugol’s solution was given to 31% of patients and 34% of healthy respondents.
Conclusions:
1. It cannot be stated that the Chernobyl disaster had any influence on the incidence rate of thyroid carcinoma in the province of Olsztyn.
2. Iodine prophylaxis using Lugol’s solution could have an influence on lack of significant increase of the thyroid carcinoma incidence rate in the age group 1–18 years.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (5): 437-442)