title: A rational approach to the clinical use of cumulative effective dose estimates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article will address ongoing efforts to track cumulative dose estimates of patient radiation exposure that have the potential to transform radiation protection research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no clear consensus on how to use this information clinically. A rational consideration of this question reveals that until the linear no-threshold model is supplanted, cumulative dose estimates are of little clinical relevance and never constitute a logical reason to avoid an imaging evaluation that is otherwise medically indicated.
authors.affiliation: The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-0801, USA. durand@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Durand
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States