Work history and radioprotection practices in relation to cancer incidence and mortality in U.S. radiologic technologists performing nuclear medicine procedures

摘要

Technologists working in nuclear medicine (NM) are exposed to higher radiation doses than most other occupationally-exposed populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of cancer in NM technologists in relation to work history, procedures performed, and radioprotection practices.MethodsFrom the U.S. Radiologic Technologists cohort study, 72,755 radiologic technologists who completed a 2003–2005 questionnaire were followed for cancer mortality through December 31, 2012 and for cancer incidence through completion of a questionnaire in 2012–2013. Multivariable-adjusted models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for total cancer incidence and mortality by history of ever performing NM procedures and frequency of performing specific diagnostic or therapeutic NM procedures and associated radiation protection measures by decade.