Studies Highlight Risks Of Radiation Exposure From Advanced Breast Imaging Exams

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 26 Aug 2010 - 4:00 PDT

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Two articles published in the Aug. 24 issue of the journal Radiology suggest that doctors should more carefully consider the risks of radiation exposure when employing advanced diagnostic techniques to screen for breast cancer, the New York Times reports. To weigh the risks and benefits of an advanced imaging exam, doctors should consider the amount of radiation exposure from the test, the patient's total past exposure and possible alternative screening techniques, according to the Times.

One study found that nuclear-based breast imaging exams that use injectable radioactive material expose women to far larger doses of radiation than standard mammography, raising their risk for cancer in other vulnerable organs, including the kidneys, bladder and ovaries. A single exam using the nuclear technologies -- known as breast-specific gamma imaging and positron emission mammography -- exposes patients to a risk of radiation-induced cancer that is comparable to the risk from an entire lifetime of annual mammograms starting at age 40, according to the study.

A single BSGI exam increased a woman's lifetime breast cancer risk by an estimated 20 to 30 times compared with mammography, while a single PEM exam increased the lifetime risk by 23 times. BSGI and PEM exams are designed as complementary or adjunct tests to mammography and ultrasound exams and are not for routine screening.

In the second paper, William Hendee of the Medical College of Wisconsin said radiologists should lead a campaign to lower use of techniques that expose patients to unnecessary radiation and increase health care costs. According to the Times, suggestions for eliminating unnecessary use of imaging include developing national, evidence-based guidelines; educating the public and referring physicians; ending physician self-referrals; and curbing duplicate exams (Rabin, New York Times, 8/24).

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