On the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of thyroid carcinoma after the Chernobyl accident

On the basis of the linear no-threshold theory, the Chernobyl accident was predicted to result in an incidence increase of various malignancies. In fact, there has been no cancer increase proven to be a consequence of the radiation exposure after the accident except for thyroid carcinoma in people e...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sergei V. Jargin
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Endocrinology Research Centre 2019-04-01
Series:Клиническая и экспериментальная тиреоидология
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cet-endojournals.ru/ket/article/viewFile/10086/7600
Description
Summary:On the basis of the linear no-threshold theory, the Chernobyl accident was predicted to result in an incidence increase of various malignancies. In fact, there has been no cancer increase proven to be a consequence of the radiation exposure after the accident except for thyroid carcinoma in people exposed at a young age. Prior to the accident, thyroid cancer had been rarely diagnosed in children and adolescents. The ability of screening to enhance the registered incidence of thyroid tumors is known. The screening after the accident detected not only small tumors but also large neglected ones, sometimes misclassified as aggressive radiogenic cancers, which contributed to the concept of their aggressive behavior and early metastasizing. This had consequences for the practice: some experts recommended a more radical surgical treatment of supposedly radiogenic thyroid cancers. Such recommendations are generally not in agreement with the international practice. In conclusion, the treatment of Chernobyl-related thyroid carcinoma should not be different from that of sporadic one.
ISSN:1995-5472
2310-3787