nuclear-news

Doctors want to make sure that use of medical radiation does more good than harm

ensuring that a diagnostic procedure involving ionizing radiation is necessary for a patient’s care and should be expected to do more good than harm

Radiation Risks From Diagnostic Procedures Examined, Doctors’ Lounge: February 09, 2012, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) — National strategies should be developed for the use of evidence-based criteria and improved oversight of equipment to minimize radiation exposure for patients undergoing diagnostic procedures, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Martha S. Linet, M.D., M.P.H., of the National Cancer Institute in
Bethesda, Md., and associates reviewed epidemiologic data on cancer
risks associated with diagnostic procedures. The authors reviewed the
definitions of radiation doses, mechanisms of radiation
carcinogenesis, epidemiologic studies of medical and other radiation
sources and cancer risks, and diagnostic procedure dose trends. Cancer
risks were described in experimental studies, and risks projected from
current imaging procedures. They also proposed a framework of
strategies to decrease radiation from diagnostic imaging.

To decrease the risk of future cancer from diagnostic procedures, the
authors recommend the widespread use of evidence-based appropriateness
criteria for decisions about imaging procedures; oversight of
equipment to deliver the minimum radiation dose necessary to achieve
clinical objectives; development of imaging procedure electronic
lifetime records for patients; and a commitment by relevant medical
and professional personnel to educate stakeholders in reducing
radiation from diagnostic procedures.

“Professionals and professional organizations that play a key role in
the appropriate utilization of medical imaging are the referring
medical practitioners who are responsible for ensuring that a
diagnostic procedure involving ionizing radiation is necessary for a
patient’s care and should be expected to do more good than harm
(designated as justification),” the authors write.
http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/26662

February 11, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA