How harmful are diagnostic X-rays?

How harmful are diagnostic X-rays?

Jose Mahfoud, ND, MSc

In the age of Google, patients have an extensive availability of information at their fingertips. A great amount of this information can be misleading, when taken out of context. At times, information from by patients can be false and even dangerous. Some patients make decisions based on what they read online, with little or no research to confirm the information.

As a licensed naturopathic physician, I have encountered several patients who have expressed concerns about the dangers of radiation from imaging studies, such as x-rays and CT scans.  These are valid concerns and it is our duty as educators to inform the patient of the reality of the situation, while providing them with a reasonable explanation about the risk/benefit ratio of these diagnostic tools.

X-rays were discovered in 1895 by German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (Roentgen).  He made his discovery by accident while experimenting with electron beams.  A few years later, Marie Curie and her husband discovered the elements radium and polonium, and used the term “radioactivity” for the first time.

X-rays are a kind of energy called “ionising radiation”, which means that objects become electrically charged when exposed to it.  This includes living tissues.  X-rays can split molecules, creating “free radicals”, and can also damage DNA.  The degree of this damage changes with the intensity of the X-ray beam and the time and frequency of exposure.  DNA damage is one of the key factors in the development of cancer.

Science has come a long way since the discovery of radioactivity, and it is undeniable that the proper use of this powerful kind of energy plays a vital role in science and medicine.  Many diseases would be impossible to diagnose and, many lives would be impossible to save, without the use of X-rays.

As a standard of care, imaging studies play a main role in the diagnosis, management and follow-up.  The benefits of imaging studies may outweigh the risks from radiation, given their indication through proper medical judgement.  For example, in a 70 year-old smoker of 50+ years, the relative risk from a 2-view chest x-ray is minimal, estimated to be 1 in almost 300,000; this is considered to be negligible when compared to the risk of cancer and COPD from a long-standing history of smoking.  The same patient would have an estimated baseline cancer risk of at least 37.5% from age alone, according to some sources.

Of course, the risk increases with time and intensity of exposure.  CT scans and other more specialised forms of diagnostic procedures deliver significantly more radiation but, when indicated, their benefits may very well outweigh the risks.

If you would like to know more about the risks from x-ray exposure, you can find more information on http://www.xrayrisk.com/index.php.  [I am NOT affiliated in any way with this website]