Medical radiation exposure plummets, reversing a trend

Radiation is an integral part of medical practice, whether it’s a CT scan or a nuclear medicine procedure, in which small amounts of radioactive substances are injected, inhaled, or swallowed to diagnose or treat illness. An alarming report published in 2008 found that radiation exposure in the U.S. jumped sixfold between 1980 and 2006. A new study charts a 20% decline since then in the estimated annual dose each person receives. Even though more CT scans were being done, the doses were lower. Another reason for the drop: A cut in Medicare reimbursement drove many cardiologists away from nuclear medicine in favor of ultrasound. "Nuclear medicine basically fell off a cliff,” said study senior author Fred A. Mettler.