THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC SITUATION OF THYROID-CANCER IN BYELARUS

Starting in 1990, an increasing number of children in regions adjacent to the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident have been diagnosed as suffering from thyroid cancer. Using available data up to 1994, the ge ographical distribution, time and cohort trends, age distribution and other characteristics of this epidemic are reviewed. The results show that the geographical distribution is similar to that of iodine-131 af ter the nuclear accident. When looking at cohorts of children born in the same years, one can see that the incidence has been increasing ste adily since 1990; deviations from this pattern might be explained by a ctive case finding. A causal relationship with the Chernobyl accident appears the most likely interpretation of these results. Possible modi fying factors should, however, be examined closely.