Hidden hazards in the cath lab: cancer morbidity among interventional cardiologists

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Systematic Review. Population: Cancer (n=1893). Intervention: Occupational radiation exposure. Primary outcome: Cancer morbidity prevalence.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

The prevalence of cancer among interventional cardiologists is approximately 4.1%, with breast cancer and brain tumors being the most frequently reported types. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Nasser G. Alqahtani

doi:10.1186/s40959-026-00489-9

May 29, 2026Cardio-OncologyOpen Access

Hidden hazards in the cath lab: cancer morbidity among interventional cardiologists

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Key result

Interventional cardiologists report a ~4% cancer prevalence, most frequently breast and brain tumors.

n=1,893

Why the study?

Existing evidence regarding cancer prevalence and its specific types in interventional cardiologists needed to be summarized.

Key Points

To summarize existing evidence regarding cancer prevalence and specific malignancy types among interventional cardiologists exposed to chronic occupational ionizing radiation.
A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus from inception through July 13, 2025.
Eligible studies exclusively evaluated cancer morbidity in interventional cardiologists, identifying 10 studies (six cross-sectional studies with n = 1,893 and four case reports with n = 8).
Across six cross-sectional studies, 77 of 1,893 interventional cardiologists (4.1%) reported cancer morbidity, with study-specific prevalence ranging from 2% to 6%.
More than 40% of interventional cardiologists experienced occupational radiation exposure in the catheterization laboratory for over 15 years.
Among 24 cases with specified diagnoses, breast cancer (33.3%) and brain tumors (33.3%) were most frequent, followed by skin cancer (20.8%), leukemia (8.3%), and head and neck cancer (4.2%).

Study Design

Type

Systematic Review (n=1,893)

Structured PICO

P

Population

1,893 interventional cardiologists from 6 cross-sectional studies

I

Intervention

Occupational radiation exposure in the catheterization laboratory

O

Outcome

Cancer prevalence and typessafety

This systematic review highlights a 4.1% prevalence of cancer among interventional cardiologists, underscoring the critical need for enhanced radiation protection and systematic health surveillance.

Limitations

Cannot confirm a causal association between occupational radiation exposure and cancer occurrence
Most included studies lacked comparator (non-exposed) groups
Small number of studies and inconsistent data reporting prevented meta-regression
Reliance on self-reported diagnoses, which can introduce recall bias
Lack of standardized cancer classification in some reports
Role of confounding factors such as age, smoking, genetic predisposition, and other occupational exposures is largely unaddressed
Causality cannot be established
Need for large prospective studies to better define cancer risk

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Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Self-reported cancer morbidity supports enhanced radiation safeguards for interventional cardiologists; leaves open causal confirmation and practice implications.

Abstract

This study aimed to summarize the existing evidence regarding the cancer prevalence and its types in interventional cardiologists (ICs). A systematic literature search was conducted from inception till July 13, 2025. Across the six cross-sectional studies (n = 1,893 ICs), 77 ICs (4.1%) reported cancer morbidity, with prevalence estimates ranging from 2% to 6%. More than 40% of ICs had occupational radiation exposure for over 15 years. Cancer types were specified in 24 ICs, with breast cancer (33.3%) and brain tumors (33.3%) being the most frequently reported, followed by skin cancer (20.8%), leukemia (8.3%), and head and neck cancer (4.2%). While causality cannot be established, these findings underscore the importance ofenhanced radiation protection strategies, systematic health surveillance, and the needfor large prospective studies to better define cancer risk in this population.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Nasser G. Alqahtani (2026) conducted a systematic review in Cancer (n=1,893). Occupational radiation exposure was evaluated on Cancer morbidity prevalence. Among 1,893 interventional cardiologists across six cross-sectional studies, 4.1% reported cancer morbidity, with breast and brain tumors being the most frequently reported.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1bcf835783ba022b6fb988 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40959-026-00489-9

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Hidden hazards in the cath lab: cancer morbidity among interventional cardiologists

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Hidden hazards in the cath lab: cancer morbidity among interventional cardiologists

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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