nuclear-news

Ionising radiation a cancer danger in CT scanning

Concerns about exposure to ionising radiation inducing cancer NPS,  15 Jan 13, People are exposed to ionising radiation through medical imaging with X-rays, CT and nuclear medicine scans, including positron-emission tomography (PET).⁵ While MRI has the advantage of not using ionising radiation⁴ most of the new MBS items for MRI requested by GPs will require X-ray as a first investigation.²

As there are no completed, large-scale epidemiological studies of cancer risk associated with CT, risk has been approximated using organ doses (or the distribution of dose in the organ) and application of organ-specific cancer incidence and mortality data derived from studies of atomic-bomb survivors on the peripheries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.⁶ Risk estimates adjusted to take into account the greater use of CT since 2006 indicate that 1.5–2% of all cancers in the US may be due to radiation from CT.⁶ Estimating cancer risk from CT remains a contentious issue, and large-scale epidemiological studies are needed for a direct assessment of this risk.⁶

Imaging is justified if the potential benefits outweigh the risks7…….

January 17, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | history, Reference, USA