Evaluation of Cancer Risk Induced By Radiation Exposure from Normal Head Ct Scans

Introduction: Radiology examinations are growing significantly every year. Analysis of the CT scan reports can highlight defects and is a good way to develop safety in healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of normal head computed tomography (CT) scans at a hospital radiology department in Shahroud and estimate the cancer risk associated with these normal CT scans .Materials and Methods: In total, the data of ۴۰۰ patients referred to the emergency radiology center of Imam Hossein hospital in Shahroud from November ۲۳ to December ۱۰, ۲۰۲۱ were collected. CT scan reports were categorized into three groups according to the interpretation of the radiologist. The BEIR VII model was used to estimate the radiation cancer risk .Results: Among the ۴۰۰ patients, ۲۴۸ (۶۲%) were males and the average age of the patients was ۴۹.۰۵ ± ۲۲.۶۰ years. CT scan in ۲۷۰ (۶۷.۵%) cases were reported normal. The average age of the patients with normal, and abnormal CT scans were ۴۱.۸۶ ± ۲۰.۲۷, and ۶۳.۰۳ ± ۲۰.۲۷ years, respectively and the difference was significant (p-value <۰.۰۰۱). The average effective dose was obtained ۱.۷۲±۰.۰۹, ۱.۳۱±۰.۱۱, and ۰.۸۷±۰.۰۹ mSv for different age groups of ۱-۵, ۵-۱۰, >۱۰-year-old. The average risks of all solid cancers were ۷.۸۲ cases per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ patients, while the average risk of leukemia was ۰.۷۱ cases per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ patients .Conclusion: A large percentage of CT examinations are normal in our country which leads to many public health issues in the future years. Therefore, efforts should be made to establish predictor clinical factors to reduce unnecessary radiology examinations .

Keywords:

Head CT scan , unnecessary radiology examination , radiation cancer risk