title: Pediatric Exposures to Ionizing Radiation: Carcinogenic Considerations.
abstract: Children are at a greater risk than adults of developing cancer after being exposed to ionizing radiation. Because of their developing bodies and long life expectancy post-exposure, children require specific attention in the aftermath of nuclear accidents and when radiation is used for diagnosis or treatment purposes. In this review, we discuss the carcinogenic potential of pediatric exposures to ionizing radiation from accidental, diagnostic, and therapeutic modalities. Particular emphasis is given to leukemia and thyroid cancers as consequences of accidental exposures. We further discuss the evidence of cancers that arise as a result of radiotherapy and conclude the review with a summary on the available literature on the links between computer tomography (CT) and carcinogenesis. Appropriate actions taken to mitigate or minimize the negative health effects of pediatric exposures to ionizing radiation and future considerations are discussed.
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. kristy.kutanzi@gmail.com.
authors: Kristy R
authors: KR
authors: Kutanzi
authors: Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA. Annie.Lumen@fda.hhs.gov.
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Lumen
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. ikoturbash@uams.edu.
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Koturbash
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. iracinemiousse@uams.edu.
authors: Isabelle R
authors: IR
authors: Miousse
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: cancer; children’s health; computed tomography; radiation