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Cancer risks associated with external radiation from diagnostic imaging procedures †‡§

  1. Martha S. Linet MD, MPH1,*,
  2. Thomas L. Slovis MD2,
  3. Donald L. Miller MD, FSIR3,
  4. Ruth Kleinerman MPH4,
  5. Choonsik Lee PhD5,
  6. Preetha Rajaraman PhD6,
  7. Amy Berrington de Gonzalez DPhil7

Article first published online: 3 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.3322/caac.21132

Issue

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Volume 62, Issue 2, pages 75–100, March/April 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Linet, M. S., Slovis, T. L., Miller, D. L., Kleinerman, R., Lee, C., Rajaraman, P. and Berrington de Gonzalez, A. (2012), Cancer risks associated with external radiation from diagnostic imaging procedures . CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 62: 75–100. doi: 10.3322/caac.21132

Author Information

  1. 1

    Chief and Senior Investigator, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  2. 2

    Chief, Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI

  3. 3

    Acting Chief, Diagnostic Devices Branch, Division of Mammography Quality and Radiation Program Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD

  4. 4

    Epidemiologist, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  5. 5

    Investigator, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  6. 6

    Investigator, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  7. 7

    Senior Investigator, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

*Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS 7048, Bethesda, MD 20892-7238

  1. †

    This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

  2. ‡

    We are grateful to Annelie Landgren, MPH, and Stephanie Glagola, BA, for technical support.

  3. §

    DISCLOSURES: This review was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 MAR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 3 FEB 2012
Corrected by:

Erratum: Erratum

Vol. 62, Issue 4, 277, Article first published online: 17 APR 2012

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Abstract

The 600% increase in medical radiation exposure to the US population since 1980 has provided immense benefit, but increased potential future cancer risks to patients. Most of the increase is from diagnostic radiologic procedures. The objectives of this review are to summarize epidemiologic data on cancer risks associated with diagnostic procedures, describe how exposures from recent diagnostic procedures relate to radiation levels linked with cancer occurrence, and propose a framework of strategies to reduce radiation from diagnostic imaging in patients. We briefly review radiation dose definitions, mechanisms of radiation carcinogenesis, key epidemiologic studies of medical and other radiation sources and cancer risks, and dose trends from diagnostic procedures. We describe cancer risks from experimental studies, future projected risks from current imaging procedures, and the potential for higher risks in genetically susceptible populations. To reduce future projected cancers from diagnostic procedures, we advocate the widespread use of evidence-based appropriateness criteria for decisions about imaging procedures; oversight of equipment to deliver reliably the minimum radiation required to attain clinical objectives; development of electronic lifetime records of imaging procedures for patients and their physicians; and commitment by medical training programs, professional societies, and radiation protection organizations to educate all stakeholders in reducing radiation from diagnostic procedures. CA Cancer J Clin 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.

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