Adult leukemia following diagnostic x-rays? (Review of report by BROSS, BALL, and FALEN on a tri-state leukemia survey).

The tri-state leukemia survey has made valuable contributions in the past by confirming the leukemia risk of prenatal x-ray exposure by suggesting that diagnostic irradiation may play a small role in adult male leukemia and by emphasizing that some risk groups may be especially sensitive to radiation. However, the present study by Bross et al. uses a new statistical methodology which is far too complex to be useful in reporting that adult leukemia and heart disease are related to diagnostic x-ray doses of between 0.1 and 10 rad. In the authors' opinion, these conclusions are unwarranted. 69 references. (Blum, Terre Haute)