Radiation Exposure Of Medical Imaging

It is a consensus that ionizing radiation is oncogenic. Much of this agreement is based upon observation of the increased incidence of carcinoma in a population surviving a nuclear attack or in uranium miners exposed to radiation at the workplace. The amount of radiation used by imaging modalities is negligible compared to the abovementioned exposures. For instance, in the United States, people are exposed to average annual background radiation levels of about 3 mSv; exposure from a chest X-ray is about 0.1 mSv, and exposure from a whole-body computerized tomography scan is about 10 mSv, and that’s 1 of the reasons why physicians usually miscalculate the potential risks associated with the radiation exposure while performing procedures using radiologic imaging. This topic explains how to quantify radiation, the biological effect of radiation, risks to healthcare workers due to radiation exposure, and certain recommendations and tips for various medical professionals. Radiation is defined as a moving form of energy. It can be classified into 2 categories: ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation can be further classified into electromagnetic radiation (matterless) and particulate radiation. See Classification of Radiation. Electromagnetic radiations are energy packets (photons) traveling as a wave. Basic examples of electromagnetic radiation are x-rays and gamma rays. Particulate radiation consists of a beam of particles that can be either charged or neutral. Electromagnetic radiations have high energy and can easily penetrate body tissues. Ionizing radiation is mainly used for diagnostic purposes.