How much is too much? Systematic review of cumulative doses from radiological imaging and the risk of cancer in children and young adults

摘要

Background: While medical imaging plays a key role in diagnostic and treatment guidance, evidence shows that the number of investigations using ionizing radiation has greatly increased over the last decades, which could be a concern among paediatric patients. Repeated imaging, as required for certain congenital conditions is of particular interest in regard to cumulative dose and the associated risk of cancer. In this context, the aim of the current work is to systematically collate and evaluate the findings reported in the literature over the last 10 years, based on the imaged anatomical area, in order to identify trends, consensus and/or discrepancies in reported risks.