title: Maintaining a proper perspective of risk associated with radiation exposure.
abstract: The objectives of this article are to provide the reader with (a) a brief discussion of actual, perceived, and acceptable risks associated with radiation exposure; (b) a basic review of radiation protection units and a discussion as to how these units are used to estimate risk associated with occupational radiation exposure; (c) a summary of radiation doses required for specific human biologic responses and a comparison of relative doses encountered in a variety of clinical situations; and (d) a practical approach to discussing relative risks associated with medical radiation exposures when patients inquire.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Imaging and Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-1270, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011835:Radiation Protection; D012307:Risk Factors; D013679:Technology, Radiologic