Technical Report No. 20-85
Serum TSH, thyroglobulin, and thyroid disorders in atomic bomb survivors exposed in youth: A study of 30 years after exposure
Morimoto I, Yoshimoto Y, Sato K, Hamilton HB, Kawamoto S, Izumi M, Nagataki SEditor’s note: A publication based on this report was published in J Nucl Med 28:1115-22, 1987.
Summary
A study of individuals in Hiroshima and Nagasaki who were under 20 years of age at the time of atomic bomb exposure and who had been exposed to 100+ rad was conducted to determine the frequency of thyroid disorders as well as the levels of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), antithyroglobulin antibody, and thyroglobulin (TG), 30 years after exposure. Thyroid disorders were detected in 56 of the 477 subjects of the 100+ rad exposed group and in 39 of the 501 subjects of the 0 rad exposed group, the prevalence being significantly higher in the former group (chi2 = 3.872, P = 0.049). This increased prevalence of thyroid disorders in the 100+ rad exposed group was due to the increased occurrence of thyroid cancer and nontoxic uninodular goiter. Thyroid cancer was found in eight exposed individuals, all of whom belonged to the 100+ rad group; statistically, the prevalence was significantly higher (chi2 = 7.919, P = 0.005). Nontoxic uninodular goiter was observed in 13 cases of the 100+ rad exposed group and 3 cases of the 0 rad exposed group, the prevalence in the 100+ rad exposed group being significantly higher (chi2 = 6.584, P = 0.010). In these cases no increase of serum TSH or TG levels was observed. Mean serum TSH levels in individuals without thyroid disorders were 1.64 plus or minus 1.89 muU/ml (n = 421) in the 100+ rad exposed group and 1.54 plus or minus 1.86 muU/ml (n = 462) in the 0 rad exposed group. Mean serum TG levels were 13.49 plus or minus 13.88 ng/ml (n = 421) in the 100+ rad exposed group and 14.76 plus or minus 15.69 ng/ml (n = 462) in the 0 rad exposed group. Thus, these differences between the two groups were not significant. Also, no significant differences were observed between the 100+ rad and 0 rad exposed groups in the mean serum TSH and TG levels of the subjects who had thyroid diseases but had not been treated for the diseases, and the subjects who had no thyroid diseases. A significant positive correlation between serum TSH and TG levels was observed in the 100+ rad exposed group, the 0 rad exposed group, and the two groups combined.
A study of individuals in Hiroshima and Nagasaki who were under 20 years of age at the time of atomic bomb exposure and who had been exposed to 100+ rad was conducted to determine the frequency of thyroid disorders as well as the levels of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), antithyroglobulin antibody, and thyroglobulin (TG), 30 years after exposure. Thyroid disorders were detected in 56 of the 477 subjects of the 100+ rad exposed group and in 39 of the 501 subjects of the 0 rad exposed group, the prevalence being significantly higher in the former group (chi2 = 3.872, P = 0.049). This increased prevalence of thyroid disorders in the 100+ rad exposed group was due to the increased occurrence of thyroid cancer and nontoxic uninodular goiter. Thyroid cancer was found in eight exposed individuals, all of whom belonged to the 100+ rad group; statistically, the prevalence was significantly higher (chi2 = 7.919, P = 0.005). Nontoxic uninodular goiter was observed in 13 cases of the 100+ rad exposed group and 3 cases of the 0 rad exposed group, the prevalence in the 100+ rad exposed group being significantly higher (chi2 = 6.584, P = 0.010). In these cases no increase of serum TSH or TG levels was observed. Mean serum TSH levels in individuals without thyroid disorders were 1.64 plus or minus 1.89 muU/ml (n = 421) in the 100+ rad exposed group and 1.54 plus or minus 1.86 muU/ml (n = 462) in the 0 rad exposed group. Mean serum TG levels were 13.49 plus or minus 13.88 ng/ml (n = 421) in the 100+ rad exposed group and 14.76 plus or minus 15.69 ng/ml (n = 462) in the 0 rad exposed group. Thus, these differences between the two groups were not significant. Also, no significant differences were observed between the 100+ rad and 0 rad exposed groups in the mean serum TSH and TG levels of the subjects who had thyroid diseases but had not been treated for the diseases, and the subjects who had no thyroid diseases. A significant positive correlation between serum TSH and TG levels was observed in the 100+ rad exposed group, the 0 rad exposed group, and the two groups combined.