Benefits of radiography treatment 'must be weighed against risks'
Friday 3rd December 2010
Some radiotherapy procedures carry risks, which should be weighed up with the benefits for each patient, according to experts, while unnecessary procedures need to be cut.
A number of inappropriate imaging procedures could be exposing patients to unnecessary risks, claim the team of professionals from the Radiological Society of North America, who discussed the issues in a recent panel meeting.
William Hendee, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, explained that although radiology is working to reduce the number of these unnecessary risks, some of the causes are beyond their control.
James Brink, professor at Yale School of Medicine, said that recent concerns about the radiation dose in medical imaging has prompted a series of responses in the field of radiography.
He said radiographers should seek to "reduce the radiation dose as much as reasonably achievable, to seek accreditation of imaging facilities with careful attention to radiation dose monitoring and control, and to participate in dose registries".
This follows news from the National Audit Office that cancer care has improved overall, but capacity and facilities vary by region in terms of treating people with either radiography or chemotherapy.
Written by Mathew Horton
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