[Cancer incidence rate after diagnostic X-ray exposure in 1976 - 2003 among patients of a university children's hospital]. / Inzidenz von Kinderkrebs nach Röntgendiagnostik im Patientenkollektiv der Jahre 1976 - 2003 einer Universitäts-Kinderklinik.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Although the carcinogenic effect of ionizing radiation is well known, knowledge gaps persist on the health effects of low-dose radiation, especially in children. The cancer incidence rate in a cohort of 92,957 children diagnosed using X-rays in the years 1976 - 2003 in the radiology department of a large university clinic was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual radiation doses per examination were reconstructed using an algorithm taking into account the dose area product and other exposure parameters together with conversion factors computed specifically for the equipment and protocols used in the radiology department. Incident cancer cases in the period 1980 - 2006 were identified via record linkage to the German Childhood Cancer Registry using pseudonymized data. RESULTS: A total of 87 cancers occurred in the cohort between 1980 and 2006 33 leukemia, 13 lymphoma, 10 brain tumors, and 31 other tumors. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for all cancers was 0.99 (95 % CI 0.79 1.22). A dose-response relationship was not observed for all cancers, leukemia and lymphoma or solid tumors. The cancer risks for boys and girls did not differ. CONCLUSION: No increase in the cancer incidence risk in relation to very low doses of diagnostic ionizing radiation was observed in this study. However, the results are compatible with a broad range of risk estimates.