Salivary Gland Tumors in Atomic Bomb Survivors

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In my opinion, the data presented do not justify the degree of certainty reported. The authors base their conclusion on the distribution of eight malignant tumors among the graded radiation categories, where they demonstrate a smooth dose-response curve. However, with so very few cases, this technique can be misleading. For instance, if the categories were arranged 1 to 91 rads and 92 to 299 instead of 1 to 89 and 90 to 299, then one case would be moved from the higher category to the lower and the dose-response relationship shown would disappear. Only the two cases above 300 rads (0.11 expected) would remain as evidence of a radiation effect and this would be fairly flimsy evidence upon which to base an "inescapable conclusion." One is particularly skeptical of a conclusion based on two cases when a histological diagnosis of malignancy is involved which is, at best,