Report No. 184 – Medical Radiation Exposure of Patients in the United States (2019)

This Report is an update of NCRP Report No. 160, Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States, Section 4 (Medical Exposure of Patients) (2009). This Report evaluates average individual effective dose and collective effective doses from medical exposures for the 2016 timeframe. The Report pays particular attention to those procedures that contribute the largest share and provides information on nominal effective dose values that individual patients may experience from a specific examination. It is very important to note that these effective dose values should not be used as an indication of acceptability or to estimate individual cancer risk from a certain radiation procedure, but rather used as a metric to broadly compare the magnitude of potential stochastic effects to populations from different radiation sources. This Report does not quantify associated health risks nor discuss potential medical benefits. The Report also does not specify any actions that should be taken in light of these latest data. These subjects were outside the scope of the charge to NCRP. The Report is aimed at medical professionals, patients, regulators, and those involved in radiation protection. It provides indices for comparison among radiation sources and at different time periods.

Excerpts and Related Information

Press Release

Overview

Table of Contents

Preface

Errata