Does the severity of radionuclide-induced skeletal malignancy depend upon radiation dose?

The severity of effect as a function of skeletal radiation dose for induced skeletal malignancy was investigated among a relatively large group of beagle dogs singly injected as young adults with soluble radionuclide. Bone-seeking radionuclides considered were 239Pu, 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra, 228Th, and 90Sr. Variables included skeletal radiation dose, tumor growth rate, maximum tumor volume, sex of the animals, growth period of the tumor, degree of calcification of the tumor, skeletal location of the tumor, year of death, and occurrence of metastases. Except for a significant relationship between tumor volume and metastatic process and for growth rate and tumor volume, no significant dependence of any two of these factors could be established. It is concluded from available data on skeletal malignancies among beagles exposed to bone-seeking radionuclides that the severity of the disease is not dependent upon skeletal radiation dose.