Table 1.
Estimated cancer risk and radiation dose for common imaging examinations
| Risk category* | Dose (mSv) | Equivalent No of chest radiographs |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | ||
| Magnetic resonance imaging | 0 | 0 |
| Ultrasonography | 0 | 0 |
| Negligible | ||
| Limb and joint radiography (except hip) | <0.01 | 0.5 |
| Chest radiography (single posteroanterior film) | 0.02 | 1 |
| Minimal (1 in 1 000 000 to 1 in 100 000) | ||
| Skull radiography | 0.07 | 3.5 |
| Very low (1 in 100 000 to 1 in 10 000) | ||
| Thoracic spine radiography | 0.7 | 35 |
| Lung scintigraphy | 1 | 50 |
| Renal scintigraphy | 1 | 50 |
| Thyroid scintigraphy | 1 | 50 |
| Lumbar spine radiography | 1.3 | 65 |
| Bone scintigraphy | 4 | 200 |
| Low (1 in 10 000 to 1 in 1 000) | ||
| Brain positron emission tomography (with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose) | 5 | 250 |
| Equilibrium radionuclide cardioangiography | 6 | 300 |
| Barium enema | 7 | 350 |
| Chest computed tomography | 8 | 400 |
| Abdominal computed tomography | 10 | 500 |
| Pelvic computed tomography | 10 | 500 |
| Technetium 99m sestamibi scan | 10 | 500 |
| Thallium scan | 23 | 1150 |
| Interventional fluoroscopic procedures | 25 | 1250 |
| Gallium scan | 40 | 2000 |
*
Lifetime additional risk of fatal cancer/examination. Classes of risk are developed by the International Commission of Radiological Protection and endorsed by the European Commission on medical imaging guidelines,13