title: Thyroid radiation absorbed dose from diagnostic procedures in U.S. population.
abstract: According to a 1981 survey of thyroid imaging methods in the United States, radionuclide thyroid scans and uptake studies increased 250%-300% between 1966 and 1981, while the U.S. population increased only 17%. Collective absorbed dose decreased from 18 X 10(6) rad (18 X 10(4) Gy) in 1966 to 13.9 X 10(6) rad (13.9 X 10(4) Gy) in 1981. The decrease was due to the use of iodine 123 and technetium 99m pertechnetate rather than iodine 131 (I-131 was used for 100% of scans and uptake studies in 1966 and 10% and 54%, respectively, in 1981) and also to fewer free-standing thyroid uptake studies (150,000 in 1966 and 33,000 in 1981). Even with reduced usage, I-131 still accounted for 93% of the collective absorbed dose in 1981. If I-131 were eliminated from diagnostic procedures, the annual absorbed dose would decrease to 1.4 X 10(6) rad (1.4 X 10(4) Gy). The number of radiation-induced cancer cases would also be reduced.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mettler
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kelsey
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012306:Risk; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m / Q000009:adverse effects; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m