Estimating the cancer risk and mortalities induced by routine digital radiography examinations on patient of different ages in Mazandaran province

Abstract

Background:The aim of this study was to estimate the cancer risks and mortalities of different types induced by routine examinations of digital radiography for one year in Mazandaran province, Iran. Materials and Methods: Radiation parameters and calculated entrance skin dose (ESD) values of 13 digital radiographic examinations were collected from 2340 patients at 18 high-patient-load radiography centers. Organ mean doses were estimated based on the collected parameters applying PCXMC software. The BEIR VII-Phase 2 model was used to calculate the induced cancer risks and mortalities of various cancer types at different ages. Results: The average ± standard deviation (SD) lifetime risks (incidence probability in 100,000 people) induced by radiations from radiography examinations for one year was 51.29±4.73 and 99.62±7.36 for new-born males and females, respectively. The lifetime cancer risk decreased with age and reached 3.77±0.62 and 4.88±0.07 for 80-year men and women, respectively. The average lifetime risks of mortality due to cancers induced by annual radiographies were obtained at 14.18±1.62 and 22.83±2.55 for new-born males and females, respectively. This risk reduced with age and was reached 1.97±0.27 and 2.45±0.38 for men and women at the age of 80 years, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed that there are low but significant risks of cancer incidence for patients undergoing digital radiography, which included a large percentage of the population in Mazandaran province, especially for children and newborns. Therefore, further efforts like appropriate patient setup and beam geometry should be carried out to decrease patient doses.

Assessment of the radiation dose associated with X-ray examinations using the DoseCal and CALDose_X software packages

“…The E values for the pelvis (AP) varied by a factor of 1.4, while the other E values calculated by both software packages were found in good agreement with the data from Syria (39) , Italy (32) , the NRPB (40) and the UK and New Zealand (42) . In general, the E value and cancer risk are dependent upon the type of examination: for example, during a skull examination, the brain and eye are at higher risk as compared with the others examinations (43) . This study** This study* New Zealand (42) UK (27) NRPB (40) Iran (41) Italy (32) Syria (39)…”

Estimating the risks of exposure-induced death associated with common computed tomography procedures

“…Estimating the risk of lifetime cancer and mortality risks induced by diagnostic ionizing radiations could be important for having a perspective on future problems and preparing ways to reduce health problems. In diagnostic radiology examinations, the organ-absorbed dose is used to estimate the cancer risk and hereditary effects to provide effective protection for the patients (12,13) . Each organ tends to show different sensitivity to ionization radiation, and this issue must be considered in evaluating the radiation effects (4,11) .…”