Radiation received at the radio diagnostic cause thousands of cancers each year in the world

Radiation received during diagnostic radiographs are responsible for hundreds to thousands of cases of cancer each year, depending on the country, shows a study that quantified the iatrogenic risk.

The medical journal "The Lancet" has published the most detailed calculations never appeared on the estimation of the risk of cancer associated with radiation received during a diagnostic test using X-rays.

It is the source of exposure to the most important irradiation (exposure among human-induced), up to 14% of the total annual exhibitions.

The authors estimated the risk in 15 developed countries (but not France) based on the annual number of diagnostic radiographs performed.

This study shows that in Europe, the Germans are the worst off, as indicated by a team of researchers from the Centre for Radiation Protection.

In Germany, every year, 2049 cancer cases are attributable to radiation received at X-rays, a cumulative risk of 1.5%. In contrast, the United Kingdom is an exemplary student with only 700 cases due to these exams 124,000 cancer or a risk of only 0.6%, but this reflects a lower number of diagnostic radiographs performed each year. The Scandinavian countries are also well placed, with 162 cases annually in Sweden (0.9%), only 50 for Finland (0.7%) except Norway (77 cases, 1.2%).

The United States show a cumulative risk of 0.9% (5695 cases). The Japanese are the most exposed with a cumulative risk of 3.2% and 7587 cases.

"Our calculations are based on a number of assumptions and therefore inevitably subject to some uncertainty. Nevertheless, if we may be a little overstated the risks, we do not expect to have underestimated," the authors note.

In a commentary, Peter Herzog and Christina Rieger of the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich note that the authors did not assess the indications or the benefits to patients whose radiographs early detection of cancer and the possibility of earlier Cure t-allowing more healings of cancer caused by radiation linked to a review.

"We need to avoid overall objective tests using X-ray useless for," they add. A European directive recommended, it should be recalled. Up to 30% of chest radiographs are outside guidance. Unnecessary scanners are longer patients remain in the hospital and expose them to radiation without justification, yet noted the German researchers.