Radiation-induced thyroid tumours in man: discussion paper

A brief review of the literature on radiation-induced tumours in man is given. Much of the work suggests that thyroid cancer often follows childhood irradiation of the neck region; the lead-in-time from exposure to irradiation to diagnosis of a thyroid abnormality averages about 24 years. A discussion follows on what approach should be adopted in subjects known to have received childhood irradiation of the upper body and thus at risk of developing thyroid cancer. (U.K.)