Differentiated thyroid carcinoma risk factors in French Polynesia.
BACKGROUND
To investigate differentiated thyroid cancer risk factors in natives of French Polynesia is of interest because of the very high incidence of this cancer in the archipelago.


METHODS
To assess the role of various potential risk factors of thyroid cancer in the natives of French Polynesia we performed a case-control study. The study included almost all the French Polynesians diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma between 1981 and 2003 (n=229) and 373 French Polynesian control individuals from the general population without cancer.


RESULTS
Thyroid radiation dose received from nuclear fallout before the age of 15, a personal history of neck or/and head medical irradiation, obesity, tallness, large number of children, an artificial menopause, a familial history of thyroid cancer, a low dietary iodine intake, and having a spring as the main source of drinking water were found to be significant risk factors. No roles of smoking habits, alcohol consumption, iodine containing drugs, and exposure to pesticides were evidenced.


CONCLUSIONS
Except for smoking, differentiated thyroid carcinoma risk factors in natives of French Polynesia are similar to those in other populations. Our finding on the role of having a spring as a drinking water origin is coherent with some other studies and could be due to geological factors.
Inserm, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), U1018, Radiation Epidemiology Group, Villejuif, France E-mail : florent.devathaire@gustaveroussy.fr.
Constance
C
Xhaard
Yan
Y
Ren
Enora
E
Clero
Stephane
S
Maillard
Pauline
P
Brindel
Frederique
F
Rachedi
Jean-Louis
JL
Boissin
Joseph
J
Sebbag
Larrys
L
Shan
Frederique
F
Bost-Bezeaud
Patrick
P
Petitdidier
Vladimir
V
Drozdovitch
Francoise
F
Doyon
Carole
C
Rubino
Florent
F
de Vathaire
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011114:Polynesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult