Deck 19: Radiation Benefits and Risks of Medical Imaging

Question 1

In a 2009 U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation of three hospitals in California and one in Alabama, what was the primary concern?

A) Long wait times
B) Poor health outcomes in patients related to inefficiency
C) Excessive radiation doses from CT scans
D) Duplicate billing for imaging services

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Concerns from medical and public health experts about risks from increasing radiation exposure from medical imaging focus on:

A) Increased later risks of cancer
B) Rise in health care costs due
C) Competition and limits on access
D) Delay in diagnosis for children and adolescents

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The energy deposited per unit mass, or absorbed radiation dose, is measured in what units?

A) Neutrons
B) Grays (Gy)
C) REMS
D) Positrons

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Of the per capita exposure to the U.S. population from man-made sources, nearly all comes from:

A) Radon
B) Medical imaging
C) Smoke detectors
D) Air travel

Question 5

Estimated annual U.S. population exposure to radiation is now about:

A) 3 millisieverts (mSv)
B) 6 millisieverts (mSv)
C) 9 millisieverts (mSv)
D 12 millisieverts (mSv)

Question 6

The controversial and most conservative assumption for health effects of ionizing radiation at exposures of less than 10 mSv is called:

A) Precautionary principle
B) Scientific modeling
C) Linear no-threshold assumption
D) Conservative calculations

Question 7

Of the different types of medical imaging studies, which of the following results in the exposure equivalent to the highest number of chest X-rays?

A) Dental X-rays
B) Screening mammography
C) Head CT scan
D) Abdomen CT scan

Question 8

Data from the Dartmouth Atlas show higher radiation exposure for children were documented in which of the following areas?

A) Bennington, VT
B) Brattleboro, VT
C) Academic Centers in Vermont
D) Academic Centers in NH

Question 9

An initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation to enhance conversations between physicians and patients, and reduce unnecessary testing is called:

A) Choosing Wisely
B) Reducing Radiation
C) Consumer Choices
D) Practice Guidelines

Question 10

A systematic review, including 14 studies from 6 countries, of physician knowledge about radiation doses and risks from CT scans concluded that physician knowledge was:

A) High
B) Consistent
C) Low to Moderate
D) Absent

Question 11

For medical imaging 1 Gray is equal to 10 Sieverts, because the weighting factor is 10.

Question 12

About half of the annual per capita radiation exposure in the United States is from natural background sources such as from the air, ground, water, food, or building materials.

Question 13

Exposure to medical sources of ionizing radiation has increased by more than seven times in the last few decades.

Question 14

The absorbed dose, measured in grays is multiplied by a weighting factor to calculate a dose equivalent, measured in Sieverts.

Question 15

The latent period for adverse health effects from exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation may range from several years to decades.

Question 16

Adverse health effects from exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation may include both acute and chronic health risks, as evidenced from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.

Question 17

Children are less vulnerable to the effects of ionizing radiation exposure, as they have many years to experience cell growth and body development.

Question 18

Scientific evidence supporting increased cancer risks with ionizing radiation exposures higher than 100 mSv is well documented.

Question 19

Many medical and experts express concerns about CT scans because of trends of increasing use and resulting increases in population ionizing radiation exposure.

Question 20

Although CT scans, nuclear medicine studies, and interventional fluoroscopy studies are only about 25% of imaging studies that use ionizing radiation, they contribute to 50% of the population exposure to ionizing radiation.

Question 21

According to data from NCRP and UNSCEAR, globally, exposure from medical imaging is similar to U.S. levels from about 1980, and is much higher in the U.S.

Question 22

Variation in use of medical imaging has been documented in different healthcare settings, in different geographic locations, and even with use of the same medical test.

Question 23

The "Stark Law" and requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act make it easier for healthcare providers and hospitals to have financial ownership in medical imaging facilities.

Question 24

The Image gently campaign promotes education of parents and health professionals to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure in children.

Question 25

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center requires that radiation doses from medical imaging be recorded in patients' medical records.

Question 26

Which of the following are examples of ionizing radiation?

A) Gamma and X-rays
B) Microwave radiation
C) Ultrasound
D) Alpha and beta particles

Question 27

Which of the following organizations are involved in oversight or education about ionizing radiation?

A) U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
B) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)
C) United Nations Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)
D) World Health Organization (WHO)

Question 28

Which of the following cancers are associated with high levels of ionizing radiation exposure?

A) Lung
B) Breast
C) Bladder
D) Multiple myeloma

Question 29

Contributor to rising numbers of medical imaging tests performed include:

A) Fear of malpractice
B) Research confirming improved outcomes
C) Financial interests
D) Gaps in medical curricula

Question 30

Which of the following may be effective strategies to limit unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation from medical imaging?

A) Smart cards for patients
B) Substituting other tests when possible
C) Computer programs to reduce exposure
D) Adaptive statistical iterative reduction (ASIR)