15. RADIATION HEALTH EFFECTS: RISK-BENEFIT ANALYSIS Flashcards
- What is Risk-Benefit Analysis?
- it is one of the best tools for managing risk on a daily
basis - it can be applied for every patient examination
- Where is Risk-Benefit Analysis not applied?
- it is not applied to the radiation dose that worker
receive - radiation protection has to be considered differently
for this group of people
RISK ANALYSIS:
- is still a very big part of the process of protecting
radiation workers
- it has to be considered as a non-beneficial risk in this
case
- What does the risk of X-Rays carry with it?
- associated dangers or risks
- X-Rays do however have distinct benefits for mankind
- What does Radiation Legislation require?
- it requires that no one should be irradiated
intentionally - unless there is a valid clinical indication to do so
- What must the Clinician take into account when making the judgement to expose a patient to any sort of Radiation?
- the benefit to the patient in having the examination
has to outweigh the risk - this is known as the Process of Justification
- What is an example of a decision that is perfectly justifiable?
- requesting an X-Ray to exclude an injury or a disease
process
USING X-RAY MECHANISMS IS ONLY NECESSARY:
- when there is no other, less risky method available
- What is the first step in the Radiation Protection Strategy?
- Justification
- What is the best way to reduce the Radiation Dose to the patient?
- to ensure the patient does not undertake the
radiological examination in the first place
RATHER SUGGEST METHODS SUCH AS:
- ultrasounds
- MRI
- minimising the patient radiation dose will minimise
the chance of the patient having any Stochastic effects
- Name 3 factors that the determination of a radiological examination will depend on?
- The age of the individual
- The pregnancy status
- The availability of other diagnostic procedures
- What are the benefits of X-Ray procedures associated with?
- managing the treatment or diagnosis of the patient
- List 5 examples of the benefits of X-Rays?
- THEY CAN SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE
- if the person is given the correct diagnosis
- EG: a chest X-Ray to analyse patient pathology
- THEY CAN GIVE THE PATIENT THE CORRECT
TREATMENT- this is a result of receiving the correct diagnosis
- THEY CAN ELIMINATE DISEASES OR DISORDERS
- this can affect the management of the patient
- THEY CAN MANAGE THE TREATMENT OF THE PATIENT
- they do this by imaging the response to treatment
- such as Radiotherapy - MAKING A DIAGNOSIS WITH AN EXAMINATION
- this has less morbidity and mortality than an
alternative test - such as a CT rather than having explanatory surgery
- this has less morbidity and mortality than an
- Is there really any safe dose limit?
- no
- they all carry some risk
- List the 3 purposes of the Risk-Benefit Discussion?
- Justify the Examination to the patient
- Discuss the need for the examination
- Quantify the risk
- What can be said about the Radiation doses used for X-Ray examinations or isotope scans?
- they are many thousands of times too low to produce
immediate harmful effects
THE ONLY EFFECT KNOWN:
- is that there is a slight increase in the chance of cancer
occurring
- there is an approximate estimate of the chance or risk
that a particular examination might result in radiation-
induced cancer later on in life
- List 5 ways of describing the risk from X and Gamma Radiation?
- Equivalent Background Dose
- Statistical Risk
- Comparisons to the General Risks of Cancer
- Comparison to Everyday Activities
- Lost Life Expectancy (this is given in days)
- Does this table make sense?
- yes
NB:
- A Chest X-Ray will give you the same dose of Radiation
as a four hour flight
OR 28 days of background radiation at sea level
- Does this table make sense?
- yes
NB:
- a single abdominal CT scan increases the average
patient risk of developing a fatal tumour by 0.05% per
10 mSv
