Clinician Awareness Key to Reducing Imaging Radiation Risk

Educating referring physicians about the cancer risks from imaging exams is key to reducing patient exposure to medical radiation, according to an article in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Other important elements of reducing exposure are more assertive radiologists and increased use of healthcare IT.

The 26-page article with 236 bibliographic references, authored by staff from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), provides a summary of key epidemiologic and experimental data on cancer risks associated with diagnostic imaging procedures. It also proposes a framework of strategies for reducing future cancer risks to patients who undergo imaging exams at high radiation doses (CA: Cancer J Clin, February 3, 2012)...