Is anyone aware of similar papers or data discussing an increased risk of hematologic malignancies and radiation exposure among interventional radiologists, cardiologists, neuro interventionlists, electrophysiologists, vascular surgeons, or other health care professionals with frequent exposure to radiation in the angiography suite?
Also is anyone aware of any current or pending litigation regarding this possible increased risk, especially in light of recent evidence of premature cataract formation in Interventional cardiologists and Interventional radiologists as well as the rapid transition from a self employed or group physician model to an employee model /integrated health care system /vertical integration?
Article CNS cancers and radiation exposure: A case-control study amo...
Dear Gregory,
"The medical risk of overexposure to external beam radiation includes acute radiation sickness (for massive overexposures) and malignancies (primarily leukemia and other hematologic malignancies) from chronic overexposure.
Since the patient is ingesting the full radioactive dose, they have much more risk than the healthcare worker. Researchers have studied these patients to learn their risks after treatment. There is no increase in the incidence of leukemia or cancer and no increase in overall cancer mortality.
Most radioactivity is concentrated in the patient’s body fluids. To limit healthcare worker exposure to radiation, the patient’s body fluids are contained and covered to contain radiation. Staff must wear their gown and gloves when handling body secretions.
The amount of radiation exposure is measured with dosimeter badges. OHC recommends that caregivers wear their badges whenever caring for a radioactive iodine or brachytherapy patient, and remember to turn their badge in for exposure level measurement."
http://healthandwellness.vanderbilt.edu/news/2011/09/working-with-radioactive-iodine/
there are lots of relevant data--possible the best summary can be found by reviewing the classic teaching text by Eric Hall from Coilumbia--"Radiobiology for the Radiologist". You could then do a quickie lit search by combining "..Radiologist with Cancer..." on a Google search platform or equivalent.
Roger M. Macklis, MD
- Badges
- Science topic