Hyperthyroidism Following Radiation Therapy for Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

The association of hyperthyroidism with exposure to ionizing radiation is poorly understood. We evaluated the occurrence of hyperthyroidism in relation to incidental therapeutic radiation dose to the thyroid and pituitary glands among 12,183 childhood cancer survivors based on individualized radiation dosimetry and serial questionnaires to ascertain hyperthyroidism. Risk of hyperthyroidism was positively associated with radiation dose to the thyroid gland, but not the pituitary gland, with radiation-related excess risk persisting for > 25 years.

http://bit.ly/2Ibf1yt