Cancer risks among studies of medical diagnostic radiation exposure in early life without quantitative estimates of dose.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is accumulating evidence of excess risk of cancer in various populations exposed at acute doses below several tens of mSv or doses received over a protracted period. There is also evidence that relative risks are generally higher after radiation exposures in utero or in childhood.

Methods and findings

We reviewed and summarised evidence from 89 studies of cancer following medical diagnostic exposure in utero or in childhood, in which no direct estimates of radiation dose are available. In all of the populations studied exposure was to sparsely ionizing radiation (X-rays). Several of the early studies of in utero exposure exhibit modest but statistically significant excess risks of several types of childhood cancer. There is a highly significant (p < 0.0005)

SUBMITTER: Little MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9167801 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature