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Radiation doses and cancer risks from breast imaging studies
1Department of Radiology, University of Colorado-Denver, School of Medicine, Room C278, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. edward.hendrick@gmail.com
Radiology
|August 26, 2010
Summary
Breast imaging studies using ionizing radiation were compared for radiation doses and cancer risks. Some newer methods like BSGI and PEM show higher risks than mammography.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Ionizing radiation in breast imaging poses risks of cancer.
- Estimating these risks is crucial for patient safety and procedure selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare radiation doses and lifetime attributable risks (LARs) of cancer from various breast imaging techniques.
- Evaluate the risks associated with mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, BSGI, and PEM.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of radiation doses from radiologic and nuclear medicine procedures.
- Utilized Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VII data for age-dependent risk estimation.
- Calculated LARs for cancer incidence and mortality for different breast imaging modalities.
Main Results:
- Digital mammography average glandular dose: 3.7 mGy; screen-film: 4.7 mGy.
- LARs for fatal breast cancer from annual screening mammography (ages 40-80): 20-25 per 100,000.
- Single BSGI or PEM studies show LARs 20-30 times higher than digital mammography for women aged 40.
Conclusions:
- Single Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) or Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) studies carry a higher or comparable fatal cancer risk than annual screening mammography.
- Risk-benefit analysis is essential when considering these advanced breast imaging techniques.
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