[ RadSafe ] CT vs. X-Ray for reduction of Cancer Death

Sun Nov 7 17:40:04 CST 2010

Jerry and others,

My primary premise is that assuming the 20% reduction is due to better detection, and I believe that is the case, I don't believe that we should go out and give everyone a CT scan, not only to detect other cases, but to provide a benefit to the radiation dose.

I recognize Ed's references. I don't know that one can simply extrapolate the results of some studies and statistics to what benefit there would be if we exposed a significant % of the population.

If it were an absolute conclusion that the need for any dose reduction was not prudent, then all of us in the radiation protection field have wasted a lot of time and effort.

Note that the NRC is evaluating lowering the regulatory dose limits to be consistent with the majority of other counties. I see no need in that and believe current regulatory limits are adequate enough. Perhaps the limits could even be relaxed a bit.

Regards,

Sandy Perle
Sent from my Windows phone from AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Cohen <jjc105 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 2:27 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] CT vs. X-Ray for reduction of Cancer Death

Sandy,
When you say that the "notion" of any benefit from an increased radiation dose
is unacceptable, and there in no evidence of beneficial radiation effects,does
that mean that: (1)hormesis is nonsense, and/or (2) the ICRP/NCRP policy
incorporating LNT is a reflection of known fact? If so, we sure have wasted a
lot of time and effort on radsafe arguing these issues.

Jerry Cohen

________________________________
From: "Perle, Sandy" <SPerle at mirion.com>
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Sun, November 7, 2010 10:22:09 AM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] CT vs. X-Ray for reduction of Cancer Death

A reduction of any illness/disease through the use of technology does not imply
that every individual in the entire population should undergo that
application/procedure with the stated goal of reducing the long-term probability
of said individual to detect and minimize the effects of that illness/disease
from occurring. There are many preventative exams that can be conducted today
for age specific, genetically prone individuals, to be tested, at an economical
cost. Just considering the cost of CT scans and the economic effect if everyone
was to receive this exam, would be not cost effective. Another point is the
assumption that somehow this dose may be a positive outcome is simply not
acceptable. Personally I still am of the opinion that exams involving either
radiological or nuclear medicine should only be utilized where there is a
distinct requirement for the exam to diagnose an illness or confirm the
diagnosis. The notion that everyone would benefit from a higher dose of r
adiation in my opinion is not acceptable, nor is there evidence that there is
any positive benefit. The risks are well-known and to ignore the known facts
cannot be ignored.

Regards,

Sandy
____________________
Sander C. Perle
President
Mirion Technologies
Dosimetry Services Division
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

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On Nov 7, 2010, at 10:07 AM, Howard Long wrote:

> CT as prevention? Hormesis?
> One logical Q, Gary!
>
> Howard Long
>
> On Nov 6, 2010, at 8:56 PM, garyi at trinityphysics.com wrote:
>
>> From what I can find online, the 20% Ca mortality drop is only assumed to be
>>due to early
>> detection.  Absolutly no one seems to be asking whether the drop might be due
>>to the much
>> higher radiation dose of the CT.  The 7% reduction in mortality from all causes
>>was
>> "unexpected."
>>
>> Hmmm.
>>
>> -Gary Isenhower
>>
>>
>> On 4 Nov 2010 at 9:29, Dan W McCarn wrote:
>>
>> This was reported by the Washington Post this morning!
>>
>>
>>
>> The number of lung cancer deaths is cut 20 percent among patients who
>> underwent CT scans as compared to standard chest X-rays, a federally funded
>> study finds.
>>
>> http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/F490YD/XTBH35/5IIQY/V546E6/Y4FYR/CM/h
>>
>>
>>
>> Dan ii
>>
>>
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