[Influence of disease prognosis and age on the radiation risk from diagnostic nuclear medicine (bone scintigraphy as an example)].
OBJECTIVE
Of the study was to assess the influence of the patient age and the survival of patients undergoing bone scintigraphy on the calculations of the theoretical lifetime loss.


METHODS
The evaluated data set included 216 patients undergoing a bone scan for the first time in 1980. From 182 patients a study end point (either the date of death, or existing registration in the German resident office on the 31.12.1995) was obtained. The theoretical life time loss was based on the formalism previously presented by Schicha und Wellner (13).


RESULTS
In 74% of the examined patients a malignant disease was present. 28% of the patients had died within one year of the examination. At the end of the follow-up period, of at least 15 years, 58% of the patients were deceased. The theoretical lifetime loss due to radiation exposure within this specified patient group was estimated to be 0.152 d/mSv. Assuming an age distribution of the general population and statistically derived life expectancy, this value should be 0.437 d/mSv.


CONCLUSIONS
The estimates regarding the risk of diagnostic procedures using ionizing radiation should take into account the limited life expectancy of patients in hospitals.
Smolarz
K
K
Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin der Universität zu Köln, Deutschland.
Eschner
W
W
Schicha
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate
Einfluss von Krankheitsprognose und Alter auf das Strahlenrisiko durch nuklearmedizinische Diagnostik (am Beispiel der Skelettszintigraphie).