Chest Fluoroscopy and Neoplasia in Tuberculosis Patients: A Retrospective Survey. Final Report

摘要

An historical cohort study has been conducted to assess the risk for cancer associated with exposure to fluoroscopic radiation, pulmonary tuberculosis. On the basis of an estimated 30,000 patient population admitted to the three sanatoria of the State of North Carolina between 1930 and 1955, individual records were analyzed at McCain State Sanatorium (NCS), at Western North Carolina Sanatorium (WNCS) and at Eastern North Carolina Sanatorium (ENCS). In terms of general mortality, the category of all deaths indicated an excess in the group with the highest exposure. Age-standardized proportional mortality analysis has revealed a moderate relative excess of cancer deaths occurring, in the exposed population, at least fifteen years after initial exposure. This lapse of time was computed from the first fluoroscopic examination, on the basis of an assumed minimal latency of fifteen years. Through a life-table analysis, death rates (all) were assessed and relative risk estimated for this population exposed to repeated fluoroscopy, in relation to the mortality experienced by the North Carolina reference population. Relative risk was found to be greatest for white males in the NCS (RR = 6.13) and WNCS (RR = 3.83). All of these deaths occurred in patients who received more than 100 fluoroscopic exposures. (ERA citation 07:008636)