Estimation of organ-specific cancer and mortality risks associated with common indication-specific CT examinations of the abdominopelvic region

Benard Ohene-Botwe; Cyril Schandorf; Stephen Inkoom; Augustine Faanu

doi:10.1016/j.jmir.2022.12.003

Estimation of organ-specific cancer and mortality risks associated with common indication-specific CT examinations of the abdominopelvic region

J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2023 Mar;54(1):135-144. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2022.12.003. Epub 2023 Jan 15.

Authors

Benard Ohene-Botwe¹, Cyril Schandorf², Stephen Inkoom³, Augustine Faanu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Midwifery and Radiography, School of Health & Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom.; Radiography Department, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu Campus, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: sirbenard13@gmail.com.
² Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, Accra, Ghana, Legon.
³ Medical Physics Department, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, Accra, Ghana; Radiation Protection Institute (RPI), Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana.
⁴ Radiological and Non-ionizing Radiation Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Accra, Ghana; Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, Accra, Ghana, Legon.

PMID: 36646547
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmir.2022.12.003

Abstract

Introduction: There is a paucity of large-scale studies reporting organ doses and cancer risks in patients who undergo indication-specific CT examinations. This study estimated organ-specific lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer incidence and mortality among patients who underwent indication-based computed tomography (CT) examinations [(involving abdominopelvic lesion, kidney stones and computed tomography-intravenous urography (CT-IVU)] in about 70% of the functioning CT facilities in Ghana.

Methods: With a total of 1,100 data sets, organ doses were first determined using the National Cancer Institute Dosimetry System for CT (NCICTX) software version 2.1, and LAR values were predicted using the BEIR VII model.

Results: The estimated radiation-induced colon cancer risks were likely in 39.4-59.8 out of 100,000 patients who underwent CT because of abdominopelvic lesion. The risk was even higher in CT-IVU examinations (53.3-66.4 patients in 100,000 procedures) but was relatively less (16.8-26.3 patients) in kidney stone procedures. Accordingly, the risk of radiation-induced colon mortality was more common in CT-IVU than in kidney stone procedures (22.7-28.2 versus 7.2-12.5 patients in 100,000 procedures).

Conclusion: These results call for further optimisation actions for indication-specific CT examinations to appropriately reduce the potential risk levels for patients' protection and safety.

Keywords: Ghana; Indication-based cancer risks; Organ-specific lifetime attributable risk; common indication dose; computed tomography.

MeSH terms

Humans
Kidney Calculi* / complications
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced* / epidemiology
Radiometry
Risk Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed