Diagnostic radiation and the risk of multiple myeloma (United States)

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between cumulative lifetime exposure to diagnostic radiation and the risk of multiple myeloma using data from a large, multi-center, population-based case-control study. Methods: Study subjects included a total of 540 cases with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and 1998 frequency-matched population controls living in three areas of the United States (Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey). Information on exposure to diagnostic X-rays was obtained by personal interview. Results: No association was found between case-control status and the total number of reported diagnostic X-rays of any type (odds ratio (OR) for 20 or more compared to less than 5 X-rays = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.7-1.2). There was no evidence of an excess risk of multiple myeloma among individuals who reported exposure to 10 or more diagnostic X-rays that impart a relatively high radiation dose to the bone marrow, as compared to individuals reporting no such exposures (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.3). Conclusions: These data suggest that exposure to diagnostic X-rays has a negligible impact, if any, on risk of developing multiple myeloma.