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Yablokov: Oncological Diseases after Chernobyl 173Figure 6.14. The incidence of the thyroid cancerby different histological types and by gender inGreece in 1963–2000 (Ilias et al., 2002).Registry reveal a significant increase in theage-standardized incidence rate (per 100,000)for thyroid cancer, due primarily to papillarycarcinoma diagnosed between 1992 and 1996in comparison with patients diagnosed earlier:1982–1986 (86 vs. 78%, P < 0.01; Lubyna et al.,2006). In spite of the author’s conclusion thatthe reasons for this rise “may relate partly toincreased diagnostic vigilance and changes inclinical practice,” time trends, gender, and ethnicitydo not preclude Chernobyl influence.7. ITALY.Therewasatwofoldincreaseinthyroidcancer morbidity from 1988 to 2002, especiallyexpressed after 1992. It was claimed thatthis increased incidence was most likely due toimproved and more powerful diagnostic techniques,not to Chernobyl-related factors, which“although possible, is not envisaged at this moment”(Pacini, 2007). However, it is noted thatthis conclusion was based on a cancer registrythat included only 25.5% of the Italianpopulation.8. POLAND. There is a noticeable increasein thyroid cancer morbidity in contaminatedterritories among adolescents and adults(Szybinski et al., 2001, 2005). Owing to theChernobyl catastrophe an additional 80–250thyroid cancer deaths are estimated to occurannually (Green Brigade, 1994).9. ROMANIA. Thyroid cancer morbidity increasedin the most contaminated areas of easternRomania. This increase started in 1990,and by 1997–1998 was much higher thanduring the pre-Chernobyl years (Davydescu,2004). The maximum incidence rate for thyroidcancer in Cluj City was registered in 1996—10 years after the catastrophe (Salagean et al.,1998; Figure 6.15).Figure 6.15. Thyroid cancer morbidity (cases per 10,000) in contaminated areas afterthe catastrophe in eastern Romania and the whole of Romania from 1982 to 1998(Davydescu, 2004).