CT Dose & Radiation Protection

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Although the risk from medical radiation is small, we should not become complacent
  • Diagnostic x-rays are the largest man-made source of exposure of the general population to radiation. Even if the risk from radiation to an individual is very small, exposure of a large number of people over time could translate into a considerable number of cancer cases.
  • A recent report in The Lancet attempts to quantify the risk of cancer induction from diagnostic x-ray procedures, averaged over the population.Their analysis suggests that in Australia about 431cancers per year (1.3% of all cancers) could be attributable to diagnostic x-rays
  • The total population dose of radiation from medical diagnostic procedures is increasing worldwide, mainly due to the increase in CT scanning.
  • It is easy to overlook the possible side effects of radiation, particularly if the risk is very low and the effect may not become apparent for years.
  • Children are also more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of radiation than adults.
  • One area in which risk is considered to outweigh benefit is whole-body CT screening of healthy asymptomatic people.

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