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. 2018 Jun 21;33(29):e211.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e211. eCollection 2018 Jul 16.

Estimation of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Risks Attributed to Diagnostic Medical Radiation Exposure in Korea, 2013

Hyungryul Lim  1 , Jonghyuk Choi  1 , Jong-Hun Kim  2 , Hae-Kwan Cheong  2 , Mina Ha  1
Affiliations

Estimation of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Risks Attributed to Diagnostic Medical Radiation Exposure in Korea, 2013

Hyungryul Lim et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Radiation exposure from medical procedures has been rapidly increasing. We purposed to estimate the fraction of cancer incidence and mortality attributed to diagnostic medical radiation exposure in Korea.

Methods: Using information on diagnostic medical radiation exposure from various sources including national health examination (National Health Insurance Service), private health examination, and conscription health examination; the annual mean exposed organ dose (mGy) from all diagnostic medical radiation use, grouped by sex and 5-year age ranges up to 80 years, was calculated. Cancer incidence and mortality lifetime attributable risks (LARs) up to 85 years using estimated exposed organ doses and biological effects of ionizing radiation (BEIR) VII model (excess relative risk and excess absolute risk) were estimated. Using background cancer incidence and mortality risk based on the national database, along with estimated LARs, we finally estimated population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and mortality.

Results: The PAF for diagnostic medical radiation exposure among all cancers of Koreans was 0.9% for incidence and mortality, resulting 1,915 cancer cases and 637 cancer deaths a year. The PAF in females was higher than those in males: 1.2% and 1.7% (incidence and mortality) versus 0.6% (same in incidence and mortality), respectively.

Conclusion: The estimated PAF for diagnostic medical radiation in Korea in 2013 was higher than those reported in the UK in 2004. Optimized management of diagnostic medical radiation use is important in Korea.

Keywords: Cancer; Diagnosis; Ionizing Radiation; Medical Imaging; Population at Risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Processes for estimating total cancer incidence and mortality risks attributed to diagnostic medical radiation in Korea, 2013. NHIS = National Health Insurance Service, MMA = Military Manpower Administration, LAR = lifetime attributable risk, BEIR = biological effects of ionizing radiation, EAR = excess absolute risk, ERR = excess relative risk, PAF = population attributable fraction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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