Studies spotlight high CT radiation dose, increased cancer risk

Dec 13, 2009

Two studies appearing in this week's Archives of Internal Medicine reveal higher-than-expected radiation dose in clinical CT studies and increased lifetime potential cancer risks as a result. At a minimum, the U.S.-funded studies suggest that dose-reduction efforts have not spread widely enough across the U.S.

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Representative axial images of mild, moderate, and severe emphysema at baseline low-dose CT (LDCT). Participants were categorized as having no emphysema or mild, moderate, or severe emphysema. When present, emphysema was mild if no distinct regions of reduced attenuation were visible on the CT scan, but vascular splaying indicates parenchymal expansion, or if only occasional discrete low-attenuation regions were observed. Moderate emphysema was defined by the presence of identifiable low-attenuation regions affecting less than half of the lung parenchyma, whereas severe emphysema was defined by the presence of identifiable low-attenuation regions that involved more than half of the lung parenchyma. A scoring system from 0 to 3 was applied, corresponding to none, mild, moderate, and severe emphysema, respectively. Yellow circle indicates the extent of emphysema. (A) A 67-year-old man with mild emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2002. Baseline LDCT scan shows vascular splaying, suggesting parenchymal expansion due to emphysema and occasional discrete low-attenuation regions. The participant ultimately died of cardiovascular disease 15.4 years (184.2 months) later. (B) A 69-year-old man with moderate emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2007. The participant died of cardiovascular disease 1.8 years (21.9 months) later. Identifiable low-attenuation regions affected less than half of the lung parenchyma. (C) An 85-year-old woman with severe emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2006. After 5.5 years (65.5 months) of follow-up, the participant died due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease–related causes. Identifiable low-attenuation regions involved more than half of the lung parenchyma.
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Representative axial images of mild, moderate, and severe emphysema at baseline low-dose CT (LDCT). Participants were categorized as having no emphysema or mild, moderate, or severe emphysema. When present, emphysema was mild if no distinct regions of reduced attenuation were visible on the CT scan, but vascular splaying indicates parenchymal expansion, or if only occasional discrete low-attenuation regions were observed. Moderate emphysema was defined by the presence of identifiable low-attenuation regions affecting less than half of the lung parenchyma, whereas severe emphysema was defined by the presence of identifiable low-attenuation regions that involved more than half of the lung parenchyma. A scoring system from 0 to 3 was applied, corresponding to none, mild, moderate, and severe emphysema, respectively. Yellow circle indicates the extent of emphysema. (A) A 67-year-old man with mild emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2002. Baseline LDCT scan shows vascular splaying, suggesting parenchymal expansion due to emphysema and occasional discrete low-attenuation regions. The participant ultimately died of cardiovascular disease 15.4 years (184.2 months) later. (B) A 69-year-old man with moderate emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2007. The participant died of cardiovascular disease 1.8 years (21.9 months) later. Identifiable low-attenuation regions affected less than half of the lung parenchyma. (C) An 85-year-old woman with severe emphysema at baseline LDCT in 2006. After 5.5 years (65.5 months) of follow-up, the participant died due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease–related causes. Identifiable low-attenuation regions involved more than half of the lung parenchyma.
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