title: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among Vietnam veterans.
abstract: In light of findings suggesting an increase in the risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among men exposed to phenoxyherbicides and concerns among veterans over Agent Orange exposure, a hospital-based case-control study was undertaken to examine the association between military service in Vietnam and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cases consisted of 201 Vietnam-era veteran patients who were treated in one of 172 Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals from 1969 through 1985 with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 358 Vietnam-era veteran patients with a diagnosis other than malignant lymphoma served as a comparison group. Military service information was obtained from a review of the veteran's military personnel records. Service in Vietnam did not increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma either in general (branch adjusted odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 0.70-1.50) or with increased latency period as defined as the duration in years from first service in Vietnam to hospital discharge. Surrogate measures of potential Agent Orange exposure such as service in a specific military branch, in a certain region within Vietnam, or in a combat role as determined by military occupational speciality were not associated with any increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Dalager
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weatherbee
mesh_terms: D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000506:poisoning; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000506:poisoning; D000328:Adult; D000075182:Agent Orange; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003678:Defoliants, Chemical; D006540:Herbicides; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000506:poisoning; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D003678:Defoliants, Chemical; D006540:Herbicides; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D000075182:Agent Orange; D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid