title: Cardiac imaging: does radiation matter?
abstract: The use of ionizing radiation in cardiovascular imaging has generated considerable discussion. Radiation should not be considered in isolation, but rather in the context of a careful examination of the benefits, risks, and costs of cardiovascular imaging. Such consideration requires an understanding of some fundamental aspects of the biology, physics, epidemiology, and terminology germane to radiation, as well as principles of radiological protection. This paper offers a concise, contemporary perspective on these areas by addressing pertinent questions relating to radiation and its application to cardiac imaging.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. andrew.einstein@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Einstein
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knuuti
mesh_terms: D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*