Answer to Question #1448 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I'm concerned about the level of radiation I've been exposed to through diagnostic x rays over the last year. I'm a 26-year-old female. The tests I've had done over the last year include spine, including upper pelvis (two x rays, front and sideview); intravenous pyelogram (nine x rays in series); spine and right hip (three x rays, front and sideview of spine and front right hip); and a chest x ray (two x rays, front and side). This doesn't include the various dental x rays (including a head x ray for braces) I've had or the chest x ray I had in 1994. I know I'm missing information on the machines used, etc., but I'm looking for radiation doses for these types of procedures. I also have breast cancer in the family and I'm supposed to start mammograms at 30 years old. Is this going to increase my risk of cancer further given my other radiation exposures? Lastly, in order to prevent having further x rays to these specific areas, is it my legal right to be able to obtain the x-ray films, if required, to give to another physician to avoid duplication? Can a doctor/practitioner (including a chiropractor/physical therapist) refuse my request?

A

While it sounds like you have had a large number of x-ray exposures, they have been to different regions of the body. Therefore, it is not appropriate to add the exposures together. The highest exposure that you received probably came from the intravenous pyelogram. The total amount of radiation exposure to that region of the body would have been similar to what you would have received from a CT scan. All other areas would have received lower exposure. While x rays of the breast do increase the risk of breast cancer, this risk has to be weighed against the risk of not having the procedure done. Not having the procedure does minimize the chance of early detection of breast cancer, the time when treatment is most effective. The risk faced by foregoing early detection is much greater than the risk from the x rays. In regard to obtaining your x-ray films—it is my understanding that patients own their x rays and medical records. At my hospital, if patients request their x rays, they are given to them without question. If patients request that their x rays be sent to another physician, this is also done without question. A request by someone else for a patient’s x rays is not honored without a written approval from the patient. Kenneth L. Miller, CHP, CMHP