Basalzellkarzinome bei einem Beschäftigten im Uranerzbergbau

Malignant tumours of the skin, often involving the hands, constituted a not infrequent occupational hazard for many of the pioneer radiation workers. Further, a significant number of patients has been reported to develop cutaneous neoplasias at the site of therapeutic radiation exposure. These radiation-induced skin cancers, whether from occupational or therapeutic exposure, are almost entirely squamous or basal cell carcinomas. They characteristically develop after a latent period of up to five decades following radiation exposure. A report on a 71-year-old male miner, who worked in an uranium mine for almost four years at the Jachymov site in West Bohemia is given. Forty-four years after the termination of his occupation he developed nine basal cell carcinomas on his face. Since other causative factors of origin of these tumours could be excluded, the basal cell carcinomas in this patient are proposed to be induced by ionizing radiation.