title: Significant but reasonable radiation exposure from computed tomography-related medical imaging in the ICU.
abstract: Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased medical imaging and radiation exposure, yet few studies have estimated the risk of cancer associated with these examinations. The purpose of this study was to review computed tomography (CT) scans performed on patients admitted to two urban academic ICUs, predict their radiation exposure, and calculate their estimated lifetime attributable risk of cancer (LAR). An electronic chart review was performed on all CT scans performed between January 2007 and December 2011. The estimated effective dose of radiation was calculated for each CT, and the LAR for each patient was predicted. Mean radiation exposure was 22.2 ± 25.0 mSv with a mean LAR of 0.1 ± 0.2 % and a median of 0.6 % with a range of <0.001 to 3.4 %. Our cohort received radiation doses higher than recommended by guidelines; however, the critical nature of their admission may have warranted these imaging studies. Estimated risk of cancer in this population was overall low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Slovis
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kaushal H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: D Dante
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seethala
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Haytham M A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kaafarani
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eikermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. lee.jarone@mgh.harvard.edu.|, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. lee.jarone@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jarone
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Computed tomography (CT); Lifetime attributable risk; Radiation exposure