Factors affecting the development of skin cancer after scalp irradiation.
A nested case control study of persons who developed skin cancer after scalp irradiation in childhood revealed two risk factors for the appearance of radiation-induced skin cancer: (a) an apparently higher radiation dose delivered inadvertently, manifested by a higher prevalence of alopecia and radiation dermatitis (RR = 3.4; CI 1.3-8.8); (b) a more frequent exposure to the sun, manifested by summer sunbathing (RR = 2.6; CI 1.1-6.1). These findings may have certain implications with regard to the understanding of radiation-induced cancer, after low-dose radiation exposure, in general.
Modan
B
B
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Medical School, Israel.
Alfandary
E
E
Shapiro
D
D
Lusky
A
A
Chetrit
A
A
Shewach-Millet
M
M
Movshovitz
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011855:Radiodermatitis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D012535:Scalp / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*