Cecília Durães

Head and neck cancers are considered late effects of low dose radiation exposure, namely in the former tinea capitis patients who were submitted to scalp irradiation, in 1950-1960, to induce epilation. In fact we have found a high prevalence of thyroid carcinoma and of basal cell carcinoma in the Portuguese tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) cohort we have been following since 2006. Recently, in the Israeli tinea capitis cohort, scalp irradiation has been shown as an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis.

Os carcinomas da cabeça e do pescoço têm sido considerados como possíveis efeitos tardios da exposição à radiação de baixa dose, nomeadamente nos doentes de tinea capitis  que foram submetidos na infância, nas décadas de 50-60,  a irradiação por raios X para induzir a epilação do couro cabeludo e assim facilitar o tratamento da tinha.

This study is part of the EUR-GAST Project, established to elucidate the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection, genetic polymorphisms and environmental factors in gastric cancer etiology in European populations. The EUR-GAST Project is enclosed in a much larger European investigation (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition – EPIC) which is designed to investigate the relationships between diet, nutritional status, lifestyle and environmental factors and the incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases.