Medical radiation resources

If you’d like more information about radiation exposure and cancer risk, here are some helpful websites:

Useful illustrations, guidance and tools

Scientific American magazine uses data to illustrate the amount of radiation exposure acquired from different tests and environmental sources.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exposed-graphic-science/

Questions to ask before your CT scan
Toni Brayer, MD

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/03/questions-ct-scan.html

Parents need to ask: Is this CT scan necessary?
Catherine Musemeche, MD

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/06/parents-ct-scan.html?_sm_au_=iVV6QrZMLMtjZZL7

The risks of CT scans: what an informed patient should know
Jennifer Gunter, MD

https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/the-risks-of-ct-scans-what-an-informed-patient-should-know/

Radiation from Cardiac Imaging Tests, Questions You Should Ask
Andrew J. Einstein, MD, PhD
American Heart Association

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/127/11/e495.full

Questions and answers about radiation exposure for women who may be, or might become, pregnant Health Physics Society

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/pregnancyandradiationexposure.html

Radiation test calculator tool from the American Society of Radiologic Technologies

http://www.xrayrisk.com/calculator/calculator.php

Environmental Protection Agency tool to estimate your environmental radiation exposure

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/calculate.html

Articles:

When to question CT scans and X-rays
Radiation from these tests can increase your cancer risk

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2015/01/when-to-skip-ct-scans-and-x-rays/index.htm

Many kids exposed to unneeded X-Rays, study finds
HealthDay

http://www.healthfinder.gov/News/Article/694097/many-kids-exposed-to-unneeded-x-rays-study-finds

Too many CT scans ordered for children with concussions, says new study Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/news/release/2014/concussion-ct-scans-10-13-2014/

How much do CT scans increase the risk of cancer?
Scientific American

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-ct-scans-increase-risk-cancer/

U.S. Food and Drug Administration begins initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from medical imaging

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafety/RadiationDoseReduction/default.htm

Task force: Hey Washington, you might be getting too much medical care Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://blog.seattlepi.com/bigscience/2014/10/14/task-force-hey-washington-you-might-be-getting-too-much-medical-care/#27385101=0

Government agencies:

The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health
CT scan explanation

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/CT

Food and Drug Administration
Medical X-ray explanation

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/MedicalX-Rays/default.htm

Food and Drug Administration
Reducing radiation doses

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafety/RadiationDoseReduction/ucm299354.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ionizing Radiation and Diagnostic Examinations fact page

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/ionizing.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Natural Sources of Radiation fact page

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/natural.htm

Environmental Protection Agency
Radiation, ionizing vs. non-ionizing explanation

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/ionize_nonionize.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fact page on UV Radiation

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/ultraviolet.htm

Study links:

Radiation Dose Associated With Common Computed Tomography Examinations and the Associated Lifetime Attributable Risk of Cancer
Journal of the American Medical Association

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=415384 (opens in new window)

Report on Carcinogens, explaining radiation’s cancer causing properties
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

http://radpad.com/LIB%20ScientificPapersShort/HS-ReportCarcinogens-excerpt-public.pdf (opens in new window)

Study overview: radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood and subsequent risk of leukaemia and brain tumours
The Lancet, medical journal

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60815-0/abstract (opens in new window)

Addressing overutilization in medical imaging.
Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20736333 (opens in new window)

Industry sites:

American Society of Radiologic Technologists

http://www.xrayrisk.com/

Device manufacturers

www.medicalradiation.com

Physician-affiliated organization, ABIM Foundation

http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/

Radiological Society of North America and the American College of Radiology

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/index.cfm?bhcp=1

Links to various other Websites from this site are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply endorsement by Humana of these sites, any products or services described on these sites, or of any other material contained therein. Humana disclaims responsibility for their content and accuracy. This material is intended for informational use only and should not be construed as medical advice or used in place of consulting a licensed medical professional. You should consult with your doctor.

Medical radiation awareness

Medical radiation resources