Radiation exposure (clinical)

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Tests and Radiation Amounts

Procedure Radiation Dose (mSv) Additional Cancer Risk
Male Female
Comparison Doses
Average US Esposure 6.2 mSv/year
7-hour Airline Flight 0.02
Plain Radiograph
Chest x-ray (2-views) 0.1 1 in 197,628 1 in 147,929
Pelvis x-ray 0.6 1 in 32,960 1 in 24,655
Neck x-ray 0.2 1 in 98,912 1 in 73,964
L-spine x-ray 1.5 1 in 13,184 1 in 9,863
Extremity x-ray 0.001 1 in 20,000,000 1 in 14,285,714
Computed Tomography
CT head 2 1 in 9,887 1 in 7,397
CT neck 6 1 in 3,296 1 in 2,466
CT L-spine 5.6 1 in 3,531 1 in 2,642
CT Pulmonary Angiography 15 1 in 1,318 1 in 986
CT Abdomen, Pelvis 14 1 in 1,413 1 in 1,057
CT Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis 21 1 in 942 1 in 704

More Information

Pregnancy

  • Greatest risk of harm during organogenesis (3-8 WGA)
  • IV contrast not teratogenic (class B)
  • PO contrast not absorbed = no risk

Exposure Risk

  • <5,000 mrads = safe
  • ~10,000 mrads = small risk childhood CA
  • ~15,000^ mrads = 6% chance mental retardation
  • <3% chance childhood CA

^Considered max

Always use shield when possible

See Also

References