Radiography warning issued by scientists
Thursday 3rd June 2010
Patients who receive a lot of dental X-rays could be increasing their risk of thyroid cancer, radiographers may wish to note.
Researchers from Kuwait, Cambridge and Brighton, led by Dr Anjum Memon of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, looked at cases of thyroid cancer patients in Kuwait, where the disease is more common than in the UK.
Dr Memon revealed that the study, which was the biggest case control research carried out on the subject, supported other investigations that have suggested a link between thyroid cancer and a lot of exposure to low level X-rays.
He added, however, that comprehensive data about the X-rays was not available and the study was largely based on the participants' own self-reporting.
The researchers do not believe that sensitive diagnostics are responsible for all the new cases of thyroid cancer, which have doubled from 1975 to 2006.
Ionising radiation is known to affect the thyroid gland.
Situated in the base of the throat, the gland releases hormones such as calcitonin, which helps regulate calcium levels.
Written by Alex Franklin Stortford
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