Thyroid Cancer Linked to X-Rays

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A recent study has determined that continued exposure to dental X rays may be responsible for an increase in the risk of developing cancer of the thyroid.

The study was a collaborative effort by scientists who determined that the risk of developing thyroid cancer increased with an increase in the number of dental X rays.

According to researchers this means that the idea that radiation exposure of a low dosage by dental radiography is perfectly safe must be further investigated.

They also added that the study noted their concern that dental x rays shouldn’t be prescribed as part of a routine checkup and should be prescribed only when there is a specific clinical need.

Known to be sensitive to ionizing radiation, the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck, is a potential problem especially in children, and dental radiography is frequently overlooked as possibly hazardous to the gland.

In the past few years, the new cases of thyroid cancer that were diagnosed have more than doubled.

Researchers have stated that the increased use of sensitive diagnostic techniques isn’t thought to account for this increase and that other causes need to be investigated.

The researchers studied over 300 thyroid cancer patients who were known to have very high incident rate of cancer of the thyroid.

The researchers stated that their results, although this was the largest case study on the subject, needs to be treated cautiously since the data was based on the participating individuals reporting on theirselves and comprehensive historical dental X ray records were unavailable from their clinics.

However, the head of the research team stated that the findings were consistent with prior reports of an increase in the risk of thyroid cancer in X ray workers, dental assistants, and dentists, which suggest that multiple low dose exposure to radiation in adults, may also be important.