[Benefit/risk considerations in diagnostic nuclear medicine]

The potential radiation risk carried out by diagnostic nuclear medicine has to be compared with the potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic benefit. An undifferentiated consideration of collective doses and risks is inappropriate. On the contrary, several factors have to be considered: the age of the patients, the prevalence of pathological test results, and the potential benefit from the diagnosis. This paper presents statistical data and individual examples. In many cases benefit exceeds risk substantially. On the other hand in some cases restrictions of diagnostic radiology or nuclear medicine should be considered.