In early August 1997, the National Cancer Institute acknowledged radiation exposure to millions of children during above ground nuclear tests in the early 1950's. The media blitz which followed this report heightened interest and concern among the public about thyroid cancer. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), which published "AACE Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Thyroid Carcinoma" in January 1997, and conducted the "Stick Your Neck Out, America" campaign to assist patients in recognizing and detecting thyroid cancer, believes clarification needs to be made about the link between radiation exposure and thyroid cancer.

There is no doubt radioactive fallout could lead to an increased incidence of thyroid cancer in the children (now middle-aged adults) who were exposed. However, the link between I-131 (Iodine) and thyroid cancer has never been proven. AACE President H. Jack Baskin, M.D., F.A.C.E., issued the following statement: "Many of the news reports erroneously stated that I-131 contaminated grass which was consumed by cows, excreted in milk, and fed to children, had concentrated in the thyroid and caused cancer. While this made an interesting story for the media, this hypothesis has never been proven. Dozens of studies involving even much larger doses of I-131 given to adults and children have shown no correlation between I-131 and thyroid cancer.

Over the past 50 years, hundreds of thousands of patients have received I-131 for medical purposes, and there is no increase of thyroid cancer in these patients." Fallout from a nuclear test involves many types of radiation including other isotopes of iodine (I-133 and I-132) as well as other forms of radiation such as radioactive cesium which may have been inhaled and caused cancer. People who lived in fallout area, "hot spots" (over 25 counties in Montana, Utah, Idaho, Colorado and South Dakota) as a child, should be aware of the increased risk of developing thyroid cancer and learn to perform a self exam of their thyroid. This can be done using a simple technique know as the AACE Neck Check. Additional information on this self-examination can be found at the AACE On-line (http://www.aace.com).

Whenever a physical examination is done, always ask the physician to examine the thyroid. If a nodule or protrusion is seen or felt, a needle biopsy should be done. Although a thyroid scan, ultrasound, or blood test may also be required, the thyroid needle biopsy is the best test to determine if a nodule is benign or is cancerous and requires surgery. AACE is a professional medical association devoted entirely to the practice of clinical endocrinology. Its 2,600 members are physicians with special education, training and interest in the practice of endocrinology. Members function as clinicians and educators in the areas of diabetes, thyroid illness, lipid profiles, reproductive disorders, obesity and nutrition.


This page is an excerpt from the AACE home page.

Return to Thyroid Nodules.

Thyroid Cancer.