Ab. Schneider et al., DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS FOR RADIATION-INDUCED HYPERPARATHYROIDISM, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 80(1), 1995, pp. 254-257
It has been hard to establish with certainty that radiation exposure i
s a risk factor for developing hyperparathyroidism. In part this is be
cause many cases of hyperparathyroidism remain asymptomatic and escape
clinical detection. We present results from a study of 2555 subjects
who received external beam radiotherapy to the head and neck area for
benign conditions before their 16th birthday between 1939 and 1962. Th
e average length of follow-up was 36.6 yr. There were 36 confused case
s of hyperparathyroidism. Based on a relative risk model, the excess r
elative risk increased significantly by 0.11/ centigray; however, the
confidence interval was wide (95% confidence interval, 0.0-17.2). The
hyperparathyroidism rates and dose-response relationships were not aff
ected by gender or age at first radiation treatment. The demonstration
of a dose-response relationship within an irradiated cohort supports
an association between radiation exposure and hyperparathyroidism and
suggests that the calcium levels of individuals irradiated to the head
and neck area should be monitored.