In plain language
In over 58,000 US radiologic technologists not doing interventional work, badge doses from general radiography fell to undetectable levels by 2015, while doses for those doing nuclear medicine, especially cardiac and PET, stayed higher.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Retrospective cohort study
- Who was studied
- Radiologic technologists
- Size
- n = 58,434 radiologic technologists
- Where
- United States
- Topics
- Dosimetry and monitoring
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Median annual doses from general radiologic procedures fell from 0.60 mSv in 1980 to below detection limits by 2015.
Key figures: 0.60 mSv (IQR, 0.10-1.9 mSv) in 1980
Doses for technologists performing nuclear medicine stayed relatively high across the period.
Key figures: median 1.2 mSv; interquartile range (IQR), 0.12-3.0 mSv
More frequent diagnostic nuclear medicine work was associated with higher annual doses.
Key figures: 1.6 mSv [IQR, 0.30-3.3 mSv] vs 0.9 mSv [IQR, 0.10-2.6 mSv]
Frequent cardiac nuclear medicine and PET work was associated with higher and more variable doses.
Key figures: median 1.6 mSv [IQR, 0.30-2.2 mSv] and 2.2 mSv [IQR, 0.10-4.6 mSv]
Limits to keep in mind
Descriptive analysis restricted to survey responders (62%) who never regularly performed interventional procedures, so fluoroscopy-lab staff are excluded; doses below detection limits and badge-wearing practices may limit accuracy.
Related research summaries
- 100 years of Personal Badge Radiation Doses in a Cohort of U.S. Radiologic Technologists: Expanded and Updated Reconstruction, 1916-2020 (2026, Retrospective cohort study)
- A Study of Radiation Exposure and the Effects of Real-time Dosimetry System on Staff Safety in Neurointerventional Procedures (2026, Prospective cohort study)
- Assessment of Radiation Dose in Neurointerventional Procedures Using a Modern Digital Fluoroscopy System (2026, Dosimetry measurement study)
- Eye lens dose in interventional cardiology personnel in Vietnam: direct Hp(3) measurement, indirect method comparison, and fluoroscopy-time-based dose estimation (2026, Dosimetry measurement study)
- Occupational Radiation Exposures in Interventional Radiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (2026, Retrospective cohort study)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract 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.