Navy review of nasopharyngeal radium treatments of submarine candidates

Abstract

From approximately 1945 through 1960 nasopharyngeal radium treatments were used to treat barotrauma incurred during submarine escape training by submarine candidates. Concern has been expressed that the treatments placed submarine candidates at significantly increased risk of having brain cancer develop. The concern is based on brain cancer incidence rates reported in a study of Washington County children. Using comparable populations' risk coefficients and secondary brain tumor incidence rates, the excess number of brain cancers per 10,000 subjects during the 42.5 years after treatment was calculated to be 0.5 to 2.8 cases and 1 case, respectively. Personnel records of a sample of those treated and others whose treatment status was unknown were reviewed to determine the feasibility of an epidemiologic study to confirm the cancer risk. The records indicated treatments were not consistently documented to confirm who was treated. In addition, social security numbers are not known to aid in determination of vital status. In conclusion, nasopharyngeal irradiation does not appear to pose a significant risk to submariners, and it is not feasible to use the submariner population to do a meaningful epidemiologic study to clarify the cancer risk. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;115:438-41.)