This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sigurdson, A. J. Articles by Tucker, J. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sigurdson, A. J. Articles by Tucker, J. D.

Routine Diagnostic X-ray Examinations and Increased Frequency of Chromosome Translocations among U.S. Radiologic Technologists

¹ Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland; ² HiroSoft International Corporation, Seattle, Washington; ³ Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; ⁴ Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; ⁵ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio; and ⁶ Health Protection Agency, Radiation Protection Division, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Requests for reprints: Alice J. Sigurdson, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS 7060, MSC 7238, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 301-594-7911; Fax: 301-402-0207; E-mail: sigurdsa{at}mail.nih.gov.

Key Words: radiation exposure • diagnostic X-ray s • chromosome translocations • FISH • risk factors

The U.S. population has nearly one radiographic examination per person per year, and concern about cancer risks associated with medical radiation has increased. Radiologic technologists were surveyed to determine whether their personal cumulative exposure to diagnostic X-rays was associated with increased frequencies of chromosome translocations, an established radiation biomarker and possible intermediary suggesting increased cancer risk. Within a large cohort of U.S. radiologic technologists, 150 provided a blood sample for whole chromosome painting and were interviewed about past X-ray examinations. The number and types of examinations reported were converted to a red bone marrow (RBM) dose score with units that approximated 1 mGy. The relationship between dose score and chromosome translocation frequency was assessed using Poisson regression. The estimated mean cumulative RBM radiation dose score was 49 (range, 0–303). After adjustment for age, translocation frequencies significantly increased with increasing RBM dose score with an estimate of 0.004 translocations per 100 cell equivalents per score unit (95% confidence interval, 0.002–0.007; P < 0.001). Removing extreme values or adjustment for gender, cigarette smoking, occupational radiation dose, allowing practice X-rays while training, work with radioisotopes, and radiotherapy for benign conditions did not affect the estimate. Cumulative radiation exposure from routine X-ray examinations was associated independently with increased chromosome damage, suggesting the possibility of elevated long-term health risks, including cancer. The slope estimate was consistent with expectation based on cytogenetic experience and atomic bomb survivor data. [Cancer Res 2008;68(21):8825–31]