Radium-induced malignant tumors of the mastoid and paranasal sinuses

In the records of 5058 persons with therapeutic or occupational exposure to radium, 21 patients with carcinoma of the mastoid and 11 with malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses were identified. Induction time for mastoid tumors was 21 to 50 years, median 33; for paranasal sinus tumors it was 10 to 52 years, median 34. Dosimetric data are given for the patients whose body burdens of radium have been measured. Observations and theoretical considerations strongly suggest that radon in the air of sinuses may be an important or perhaps a major factor in the induction of paranasal sinus malignancies in the radium cases