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Diagnostic radiation and the risk of multiple myeloma (United States)

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between cumulative lifetime exposure to diagnostic radiation and the risk of multiple myeloma using data from a large, multi-center, population-based case–control study.

Methods: Study subjects included a total of 540 cases with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and 1998 frequency-matched population controls living in three areas of the United States (Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey). Information on exposure to diagnostic X-rays was obtained by personal interview.

Results: No association was found between case–control status and the total number of reported diagnostic X-rays of any type (odds ratio (OR) for 20 or more compared to less than 5 X-rays = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.7–1.2). There was no evidence of an excess risk of multiple myeloma among individuals who reported exposure to 10 or more diagnostic X-rays that impart a relatively high radiation dose to the bone marrow, as compared to individuals reporting no such exposures (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.3).

Conclusions: These data suggest that exposure to diagnostic X-rays has a negligible impact, if any, on risk of developing multiple myeloma.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. G. Marie Swanson

    Present address: Cancer Center, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, USA

  2. Linda M. Pottern

    Present address: Women's Health Initiative, National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

  3. Raymond S. Greenberg

    Present address: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Juliet L. Hatcher, Andrew F. Olshan & David A. Savitz

  2. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Dalsu Baris, Peter D. Inskip & Linda Morris Brown

  3. Michigan Cancer Foundation, Detroit, MI, USA

    G. Marie Swanson

  4. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Linda M. Pottern

  5. Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Raymond S. Greenberg

  6. armanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA

    Ann G. Schwartz

  7. >New Jersey State Department of Health, Trenton, NJ, USA

    Janet B. Schoenberg

Authors
  1. Juliet L. Hatcher
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  11. Linda Morris Brown
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Hatcher, J.L., Baris, D., Olshan, A.F. et al. Diagnostic radiation and the risk of multiple myeloma (United States). Cancer Causes Control 12, 755–761 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011205908596

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