Radiation exposure from imaging tests: is there an increased cancer risk?

Abstract

The increasing exposure to low-dose radiation from diagnostic testing has prompted renewed interest in evaluating its carcinogenic risk, but quantifying health risk from low-dose radiation exposure remains controversial. The current approach is to adopt the linear non-threshold model, which is commonly applied to high-dose exposure, and apply it to assess risk from low-dose exposure. However, existing data are conflicting and limited to epidemiological studies and/or in vitro analyses. In this article, we will discuss the potential cancer risk from low- and high-dose radiation, their effects on DNA repair response pathways, and the best course of action for patients and providers to minimize risk.

Keywords::

• cancer risk
• diagnostic imaging
• DNA damage
• ionizing radiation
• low-dose radiation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from the ACC-GE Healthcare Career Development Award (PKN), and NIH grants EB009689 and HL093172 (Joseph C Wu). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.