Ionising radiation: A necessary evil?

摘要

We agree wholeheartedly with the conclusion of Martineau-Beaulieu and Lanthier that radiation doses need to be reduced in hospital inpatients. Putting aside the apparent overestimation of the radiation dose associated with a thallium scan - the figure quoted is more than 50% over that cited by most authorities - we also reflect on the potentially strong diagnostic benefits of these procedures. Three of the four procedures associated with the highest radiation doses also have the greatest potential for establishing a life-saving diagnosis and/or significantly impacting on the management algorithm at the outset of hospital admission. Namely, these are coronary angiogram/angioplasty, computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram and positron emission tomography with fluorodexoyglucose.