Malignant tumors in atomic bomb survivors with special reference to the pathology of stomach and lung cancer

A general review of stomach and lung cancer among atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors is made classified by three time periods, 1945 - 60, 1960 - 75, and 1975 - 84. First is the period of ''what is A-bomb disease?,'' during the second period the fixed population samples and the tentative 1965 radiation dose (T65D) estimates were established, and during the third period the tumor and tissue registries were operating and reassessment of radiation dose was underway. From review of stomach and lung cancer studies during the three time periods the following findings can be summarized: 1) the incidence of stomach and lung cancer among A-bomb survivors is related to radiation exposure dose, and the incidence of cancer increases at the usual ages when cancer appears, 2) cancer incidence is high among survivors who were exposed when young and the latent period is short, and 3) there is no specific histological type of radiation-induced cancer, but poorly differentiated types develop with a high frequency. (author)