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Brain and neck tumors among physicians performing interventional procedures.
Ariel Roguin1, Jacob Goldstein, Olivier Bar
1Department of Interventional Cardiology, Rambam Medical Center, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. aroguin@technion.ac.il
The American Journal of Cardiology
|February 20, 2013
Summary
Physicians in interventional medicine face increased brain cancer risk due to chronic radiation exposure. A study of 31 cases, primarily interventional cardiologists, revealed a concerning rate of left-sided tumors, suggesting a link to occupational radiation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Oncology
- Occupational Health
- Radiology
Background:
- Physicians performing interventional procedures are routinely exposed to ionizing radiation.
- This occupational exposure is a known risk factor for increased cancer incidence.
- Previous reports highlighted brain cancer cases in interventional cardiologists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document and analyze a larger cohort of brain and neck tumors in physicians involved in interventional procedures.
- To investigate potential correlations between occupational radiation exposure and tumor characteristics, including laterality.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series was compiled, including 31 physicians with brain and neck tumors.
- Data collected included physician specialty, years in practice, tumor type, and laterality.
- Information was gathered from medical records, patient interviews, and family/colleague interviews.
Main Results:
- The cohort comprised 23 interventional cardiologists, 2 electrophysiologists, and 6 interventional radiologists.
- The mean latency period between practice start and diagnosis was 23.5 years.
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was the most common tumor type (55%).
- Of 26 cases with laterality data, 85% of malignancies were left-sided, a statistically significant finding given known radiation patterns.
Conclusions:
- The findings raise significant concerns about the risk of brain cancer in physicians undertaking interventional procedures.
- The high incidence of left-sided tumors suggests a potential causal relationship with occupational radiation exposure, as the left side of the head is more exposed.
- Further research and protective measures are warranted to mitigate these risks.
