title: Radiation-induced myelomatosis.
abstract: It is well known that radiation can cause myeloid leukemia. However, no excess of chronic lymphocytic leukemia has been observed. Myelomatosis, like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is a tumor of B lymphocytes. To determine whether this disease has a radiogenic origin, we surveyed all cohorts of persons exposed to radiation for which data on cancer-related mortality are available. An excess of myeloma was found in most cohorts. However, a striking deficit was found in two groups irradiated intensely for uterine neoplasms (three cases observed, 10.71 expected; P = 0.012). All other groups combined had a highly significant excess (50 observed, 22.21 expected; P = 2 X 10(-7)). The largest relative risk appeared among persons receiving internal doses of alpha-particles (14 observed, 3.24 expected; P = 2 X 10(-5)), but a significant excess (13 observed, 6.33 expected; P = 0.026) was also found in patients receiving only therapeutic or diagnostic gamma-rays or x-rays. Most cases occurred 15 to 25 years after exposure.
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008906:Mining; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011871:Radiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011883:Radium / Q000009:adverse effects; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D013911:Thorium Dioxide; D011883:Radium