Thyroid cancer incidence in the Republic of Belarus

Frequency and characteristics of thyroid cancer prevalence in the Republic of Belarus before and after the Chernobyl accident were studied and the analysis of data on thyroid cancer incidence and mortality within the period of 1977-1994 was carried out. It was found out that before the accident low levels of thyroid carcinoma were registered in the Republic of Belarus characterized by expressed areal variations. The highest prevalence of thyroid cancer was characteristic for Minsk-city, the lowest - for Brest and Grodno oblasts. Since 1991 a high increase in thyroid cancer incidence most expressed in Gomel oblast was registered especially among children and adolescents. Alongside with incidence increase in all age groups the mortality rates are the same as they were before the accident.