Key result
Cath lab radiation is unlikely to increase head and neck malignancy risk for interventional cardiologists.
Why the study?
The risk of head and neck malignancies as an occupational hazard for interventional cardiologists exposed to X-rays in the cath lab is uncertain due to limited sample sizes in prior reports.
Does occupational X-ray exposure increase the incidence of head and neck malignancies in interventional cardiologists?
Does occupational X-ray exposure increase the incidence of head and neck malignancies in interventional cardiologists?
A literature review found insufficient evidence to classify head and neck malignancies as a definitive occupational risk for interventional cardiologists, highlighting the need for larger studies.
Current data indicate no major head and neck malignancy risk for interventional cardiologists; leaves open need for larger prospective studies.
The occupational risk to interventional cardiologists related to using X-rays in the catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) includes a range of radiation-induced effects. The primary concern is the possibility of developing head and neck malignancies. A literature review of reports on developing head and neck malignancies among interventional cardiologists was conducted. Several individual cases of head and neck malignancies have been reported, predominantly on the left side. However, these studies do not have a sufficient sample size to generalise the results. Based on the available reports, it is concluded that head and neck malignancies are unlikely to constitute an occupational risk for interventional cardiologists. More research is required to establish whether head and neck malignancies are more prevalent among interventional cardiologists.
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Pretorius et al. (2024) conducted a review in Head and neck malignancies. Occupational radiation exposure was evaluated on Incidence of head and neck malignancies. Based on available reports with small sample sizes, head and neck malignancies are unlikely to constitute a significant occupational risk for interventional cardiologists.
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