nuclear-news

Ionising radiation a valuable medical tool, but only when really warranted

 “Ionized radiation is the most studied carcinogen in the world.”

the problem is that sometimes the devices are used when they are not necessary, a situation peculiar to the American medical system. In the United Kingdom and Europe the devices are not used unless the need is warranted by the patient’s medical condition.

On that, everyone seems to agree.

Medical Physicists Say Fear of Diagnostic Radiation Is Overblown Patients should not decline X-ray imaging for medically advised procedures, group says. Jan 11, 2012 Inside Science, By Joel N. Shurkin, ISNS  — An association of physicists in the medical field has warned patients not to decline diagnostic radiation procedures because of perceptions that the tests may be
harmful.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine said the benefits
of diagnostic — mostly imaging — technology far outweighed the
risks. Machines that deliver much higher levels of radiation for
treating cancer have been the subject of media stories uncovering
improper use and accidents, and journal articles have cautioned
physicians to minimize diagnostic CT scans in children, especially
repeated ones. They have raised unfounded fears about radiation
procedures in general, the association said….

“It’s a very blasé, a surprising statement from people whose job it is
to ensure the safety of what we do,” said Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a
professor of radiology and several other medical departments at the
University of California at San Francisco. “Ionized radiation is the
most studied carcinogen in the world.”

Smith-Bindman added that the literature shows a risk for solid tumors
and leukemia — even at low exposure — although the lower the
exposure, the less certain the risk, and that the fear that patients
would decline needed CT scans was “unjustified.”

“Seventy-five million people — one in four — have CT scans every
year,” Smith-Bindman said. “Few refused necessary exams.”….
Smith-Bindman said part of the problem is that sometimes the devices
are used when they are not necessary, a situation peculiar to the
American medical system. In the United Kingdom and Europe the devices
are not used unless the need is warranted by the patient’s medical
condition.

On that, everyone seems to agree.

“[AAPM] acknowledges that medical imaging procedures should be
appropriate and conducted at the lowest radiation dose consistent with
acquisition of the desired information,” the organization said in a
press release.

January 12, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA