Expert panel on monitoring radiation doses from recurrent medical diagnostic procedures: Sixth Gilbert W. Beebe...

Recurrent imaging is an essential tool for patient care but with an attendant dose from radiation exposure. Recurrent imaging has been the subject of increasing scrutiny and debate based largely on the risk from increasing cumulative doses. However, the accountability for and actions with recurrent imaging as a special component in the general construct of radiation protection in medicine is unclear. This is demonstrated by the perspectives provided by the various imaging community experts. Some perspectives may be different, but many share a common ground. Understanding these various perspectives illustrates the wide-ranging optics in considering benefits and costs in the recurrent imaging paradigm and, moreover, the value in pursuing multi-stakeholder-derived harmonization for recurrent imaging and radiation dose. This move towards consensus would be to the benefit of the imaging community, referrers, and other related healthcare professionals, as well as patients, their caregivers, and the public.