Individual Dose Response and Radiation Origin of Childhood and Adolescent Thyroid Cancer in Fukushima, Japan

Review Data

Q: Is the topic relevant to the journal area of interest? Is it contemporary and interesting for

researchers?

A: Good

Abstract & Keywords

Q: Are all required components included in the abstract? Are the keywords appropriately chosen?

A: Good

Goal

Q: Is the goal explicitly stated in the Introduction? Is its formulation clear and unambiguous?

A: Good

Structure

Q: Is the paper's structure coherent? Is it in coherence with the goal of the paper?

A: Good

Tools and Methods

Q: Are methods the author uses adequate and well used?

A: Good

Discussion & Conclusion

Q: Is it related to the results presented before? Do you consider them as coherent?

A: Good

Comments: The Discussion illustrates the association between radiation exposure from the nuclear accident and the increased dose of thyroid cancer. It further described the proportional increase of relative risk (RR) of thyroid cancer in individual dose groups providing relevant literature. The Discussion gives a clear view of the cause of the high incidence rates of thyroid cancer in the 2nd round of cancer study. The Conclusion presents the study of thyroid cancer in Fukushima residents exposed at ≤18 years of age and demonstrated a linear relationship between thyroid cancer incidence and individual external dose. Lastly, the authors suggest the dominant cause of increased childhood thyroid cancer in Fukushima.

Literature

Q: Does the author utilize relevant literature?

A: Good

Author's knowledge

Q: What is the level of the author’s knowledge? Does the author utilize all recent contributions relevant to the topic?

A: Good

Length

Q: Is the length of the paper adequate to the significance of the topic? Do you suggest shortening the paper without losing its value?

A: Good

Figures & Tables

Q: Does the author use them suitably? Are legend and notations clear?

A: Good

Writing style

Q: Is it clear and understandable?

A: Good

Comments: There are few errors found in the manuscript, which are as follows:

·       Under Discussion, 3^rd paragraph, 4^th sentence, “High incidence rates in the 2nd round… 1st round, indicated that the increased thyroid cancer…” should be written as “High incidence rates in the 2nd round… 1st round indicating that the increased thyroid cancer…”.

·       Under Discussion, 6^th paragraph, 2^nd sentence, “Radiation related thyroid cancer occurred mostly in children and adolescents…” should be “Radiation-related thyroid cancer occurs mostly in children and adolescents…”.

Further comments on the paper

Comments: The manuscript provides a detailed analysis of the individual dose-response and radiation origin of childhood and adolescent thyroid cancer in Fukushima, Japan. The probable radiation origin of childhood thyroid cancer in Fukushima after the nuclear accident was examined from the cancer registry in Japan, and the age distribution of thyroid cancer cases as compared with the Chernobyl cases. The methods of the study include Thyroid ultrasound screening and study subjects, Dose estimation and the dose-response of the thyroid cancer incidence proportion.

Q: Would you recommend this manuscript for further publication?

A: Yes - Suitable to be published

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Science Repository Team