Cumulative Radiation Dose from Medical Imaging in Chronic Adult Patients

Chronic patients require ongoing care that results in repeated imaging and exposure to ionizing radiation for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This is of concern due to the long-term effects of radiation exposure, namely the association between radiation and increased cancer risk. In this study, the scientific literature on cumulated dose of radiation accrued from medical imaging by 4 cohorts of chronic patients (cardiac disease, end-stage kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair) was systematically reviewed. We found that the cumulative effective dose is moderate in cardiac and inflammatory bowel disease patients, high in end-stage kidney disease patients, and very high in endovascular aortic repair patients. We concluded that radiation burden of medical imaging is high in selected cohorts of chronic patients. Efforts should be implemented to reduce this cumulative dose and its potential attendant risks.