Risk Of Cancer And Radiation Dose Received By Patients From Common Diagnostic Radiological Examinations

Abstract

Background: Although radiological diagnostic studies (RDS) are an important and acceptable part of medical practice, it is not without hazards. It is associated with increased risk of cancer. Unfortunately the typical and safe dose of each radiological examination is not known. Most of our knowledge of cancer risk comes from studies of survivors of those exposed to whole body radiation from atomic bomb in Hiroshima & Nagasaki, jobs associated with radiation exposure, Chernobyl survivors & patients treated with radiation therapy for cancer and other diseases.

 Objectives   To estimate radiation dose received by patients from diagnostic radiological examinations and lifetime attributable risk of cancer (LTARC).

Type of the study: A prospective study.

 Methods   A prospective study was conducted in Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital (KTH) during the period from 1^st June to 31^st august 2016. The study was performed on 910 adult patients. There were 595 males (65.38%) and 315 females (34.62%); mean age was 41.5 years (range 20-63).Different RDS were considered including chest-x ray (CXR), skull x-ray(SXR),    x-ray of limbs and pelvis (LPXR) for orthopedic causes , computed tomography scan (CTS) and mammography (MG) .

Results   CXR was performed for 260 (28.57%) patients which delivers 0.12 mSv. SXR was done for 160 (17.58%) patients which delivers 0.3 mSv. LPXR was performed for 220 (24.175%) which delivers 0.3-0.6 mSv. MG exposes 150 (16.48%) to 3 mSv. While CTS ,which         delivers 6.2-16 mSv according to anatomic area being scanned, was done for 120(13.19%) patients.

 Conclusion    There is great abuse for using RDS from both patients and doctors, without realizing their danger and association with cancer development. It was proved that RDS expos patients to different kinds of tissues injury including cancer.