In plain language
In six surveys of 1,893 interventional cardiologists, about 4% self-reported a cancer diagnosis, most often breast, brain, and skin cancers among cases with known type. Without comparison groups, this cannot show that occupational radiation caused these cancers.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Systematic review or meta-analysis, Systematic review
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists
- Size
- n = 1,893 interventional cardiologists (six cross-sectional studies)
- Where
- Pakistan, United States, Canada, Israel, France
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Pooled across six cross-sectional studies, 4.1% of interventional cardiologists reported cancer, with study prevalences ranging from 2% to 6%.
Key figures: 77 of 1,893 ICs (4.1%); range 2% to 6%
Among 24 cases with a specified cancer type, breast and brain cancers were most common, followed by skin cancer, leukemia, and head and neck cancer.
Key figures: breast 33.3%, brain 33.3%, skin 20.8%, leukemia 8.3%, head and neck 4.2% (n = 24)
More than 40% of interventional cardiologists in the included studies had over 15 years of occupational radiation exposure.
Key figures: >40% with >15 years
Causality cannot be established because most studies lacked non-exposed comparator groups, relied on self-report, and did not address confounders.
The authors interpret reported left-sided brain tumors and breast cancers as consistent with exposure of unshielded head and arm-hole regions, and call for better shielding and health surveillance.
Limits to keep in mind
Small review of six self-reported cross-sectional surveys and four case reports, screened and extracted by a single reviewer, with no non-exposed comparator groups, no dose quantification, and no control for confounders such as age or smoking.
Related research summaries
- SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Two Central Nervous System Tumors in One Catheter Lab: Time to Rethink Radiation Protection (2026, Retrospective cohort study)
- Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: a narrative review of health effects and novel approaches to ensure radiation safety (2025, Narrative review)
- Addressing the Occupational Risk of Radiation Exposure in the Evolving Field of Interventional Echocardiography (2024, Narrative review)
- Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the full text of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.