What Are The Hazards Of X-ray Radiation?

The clinical application of X-ray has a history of nearly a hundred years, and it plays an important role in the diagnosis of diseases. If the protection does not meet the standards, unnecessary damage will occur. The X-ray fluoroscopy and X-ray photographs we know have long been its routine applications. In recent years, CT and interventional radiology have also joined its routine application range. Therefore, due to the routine clinical application of X-rays, people are not unfamiliar with radiological examinations and related special examinations. It is precisely because of the continuous application of these advanced equipment and technologies in clinical practice that the diagnosis rate and treatment effect have been greatly improved. However, many people know little about radiation knowledge, and the following common misunderstandings often occur.

(1) Many people think that it only takes a short time to perform a radiological examination, and do not understand or ignore its hazards. For example, some patients do not listen to the doctor's dissuasion every time they see a doctor, and strongly demand a radiological examination, even several times within a month. Another example is that some patients stayed in the examination room without listening to dissuasion when they could not be examined by themselves. This understanding is wrong. The hazards caused by radiation have deterministic effects and random effects. Radiation-induced radiation-induced cataracts and other types of radiation diseases are deterministic effects, which will only occur after the radiation dose has accumulated to a certain extent in the body. The stochastic effect is not the case, it is very likely that a disease will occur after one exposure, and the higher the exposure dose, the greater the probability of inducing the disease. Radiation-induced cancer is a random effect. It can be seen that although the time of radiological examination is very short, it can still cause harm to human health through deterministic effects and random effects. Therefore, we must reduce unnecessary radiological examinations, and we must not take it lightly because of the short inspection time.

(2) Most people think that CT and interventional radiology are relatively advanced consumption, and their protection can reach zero radiation, so they will not cause any damage to the body. For example, many people still ask doctors to conduct CT examinations even though radiographs can be used for diagnosis. Another example is that many people think that CT examination is an indispensable examination, so they refuse the doctor's advice when they enter the hospital and strongly demand CT examination. This understanding of people is completely wrong. CT examination is the abbreviation of X-ray computerized tomography, which uses X-rays emitted by a large artificial X-ray source. According to relevant domestic data, when different types of CT machines are used for head scanning, the patient's maximum body surface dose can reach an average of 36.6-70 mGy (3.66-7.0 R), and the highest can reach 92 mGy (9.2 R), second only to conventional X-rays. X-ray cardiac catheterization and gastrointestinal angiography are 2.8 to 11 times that of conventional X-ray chest X-ray or physical examination. According to foreign data, the maximum absorbed dose to the skin of the examinee during CT scanning can be as high as 560 mGy (56 R), generally up to about 60 mGy (6 R); the radiation dose of abdominal CT examination is 8 times that of abdominal plain film; Or pelvic CT radiography, the uterine exposure dose is 5-7 times or 9-12 times higher than conventional X-ray diagnosis, and the bone marrow exposure dose is 16-23 times or 30-43 times higher respectively. It can be seen that during CT examination, the subject's exposure dose is almost an order of magnitude higher than that of conventional X-ray diagnosis. Therefore, contrary to what people think, not only can CT examination not achieve zero radiation, but it is far more harmful to the human body than conventional X-ray chest X-ray or filming.

(3) Currently, at least 30 percent of clinical X-ray examinations are unnecessary. According to foreign sources, scientists from Oxford University and the UK Cancer Research Center found that 0.6 percent of the cancer cases diagnosed in the UK each year were caused by X-ray examinations after analyzing the statistical data of 15 countries. In Japan, where X-rays and CT scans are more common, they account for 3.2 percent of new cancer cases each year. Amy Gonzalez, who was in charge of the study, said in an interview with the British media that this study does not negate the importance of X-ray and CT examinations, but just reminds doctors to be cautious when taking these two examinations. The researchers pointed out in the report that in the past 20 years, the number of X-ray inspections in the countries surveyed has shown an upward trend. Scientists advise doctors to use other methods in place of X-rays and CT exams in some cases.

(4) Some people think that various X-ray related examinations are very scary, and they are afraid that the radiation will damage their bodies. For example, some people think that a chest X-ray will cause cancer, so they refuse to accept X-ray examination. This is an overly conservative understanding. Although X-rays have a certain killing and destructive effect on biological cells, after the human body is exposed to X-rays, it will produce certain physiological reactions. After excessive exposure, it will also cause tissue damage, affect physiological functions, and even cause life-threatening. Exposure will not affect human health. Because when the medical personnel do the examination, the dose used for X-ray fluoroscopy and photography is very small, and it is limited to the safe dose. So there is no need for people to worry too much.

(5) However, if the protection does not meet the standards, it is necessary to carry out protective interventions on the X-ray machine and the workplace to avoid unnecessary damage, otherwise it will seriously threaten the health of patients and staff. Among them, the protection of X-ray workers is particularly important. Workers engaged in various types of radiation must take protective measures, wear and use protective equipment, reduce fluoroscopy time, and use a small field of view as much as possible. In the operating room, the protective door should be closed, and the indoor space should be kept open to reduce the reflection of secondary rays. In terms of quality control of imaging equipment, the best image quality can be obtained with the lowest X-ray. Remote control is used in X-ray equipment to reduce the harmful exposure of operators. In terms of the environment of the inspection room and control room, in addition to the temperature and dry humidity suitable for the equipment, there should also be good ventilation, sterilization, and harmful radiation absorption facilities, such as air purifiers. In terms of dose monitoring for radiation workers, it is necessary to wear a dose monitoring box and conduct regular testing and analysis to ensure that the dose of the staff is at a minimum.

Through the above discussion, we know three misunderstandings about X-rays in medical examinations, so how can we reasonably apply X-ray-related examinations in medicine and minimize the harm of X-rays? First of all, doctors are required to strictly control the indications related to X-ray examinations, and try to minimize the amount of radiation that patients are exposed to. The most important thing is to strictly control the first-choice indications of CT examination, especially for women of childbearing age, pregnant women and infants, try to avoid CT examination as the first choice; CT machine operators should appropriately reduce the tube current and scan levels while ensuring the quality of diagnosis. , and pay attention to the protection of the eye lens and gonads of the examinee, so that the radiation dose of the examinee can be reduced to the lowest level. Secondly, improve the professional level of radiological technicians in primary hospitals, reduce the number of secondary examinations caused by inaccurate diagnosis, and patients should continue to strengthen their understanding of X-rays, so as to better cooperate with doctors and jointly reduce its impact on our health. hazards, and finally, the self-protection of radiation workers should be paid attention to.