[Geographic distribution of multiple myeloma in the Loiret region. 10-year retrospective epidemiological survey].

Suspecting the presence of a myeloma focus in a forest area of the Loiret department, we have undertaken a retrospective epidemiological survey on this disease. Three surveys were conducted, between 1972 and 1982: the first one among general practitioners; the second one was carried out from immuno-electrophoreses performed at the University Hospital in Orleans; the third survey was carried out from reports on the medical causes of deaths. The mean number of myelomas in the Loiret (0.029 p. cent) is comparable to the national mean (0.025 p. cent), with a sex ratio of 47.09 p. cent of men, also quite similar to the national sex ratio (46.7 p. cent). The different districts were classified according to the percentages observed in "neutral areas" (mean plus or minus a typical variation), "cold areas" (between one and two typical variations below the mean) and "hot areas" (between one and two typical variations above the mean). These results do not permit to ascertain the existence of a geographical focus of myelomas in Loiret but require a more in-depth study of "hot areas".