TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in radiological imaging frequencies in children before and after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
AU - Yoshida, Koji
AU - Hayashida, Naomi
AU - Fukushima, Yoshiko
AU - Ohtsuru, Akira
AU - Ohba, Takashi
AU - Hasegawa, Arifumi
AU - Sato, Hisashi
AU - Shishido, Fumio
AU - Yasui, Kiyotaka
AU - Kumagai, Atsushi
AU - Yusa, Takeshi
AU - Kudo, Takashi
AU - Yamashita, Shunichi
AU - Takamura, Noboru
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Japan Radiological Society.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Purpose: The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has raised concerns about radiation exposure, including medical radiation exposure such as X-ray and CT, in residents of Fukushima. Materials and methods: We compared the numbers and the ratio of outpatients less than 10 years old who underwent imaging examinations [e.g., CT, X-ray, MRI, ultrasonography (US), etc.] at Fukushima Medical University hospital in Fukushima, Japan before (April 1, 2008–March 31, 2011) and after (April 1, 2011–March 31, 2014) the accident. Results: The number of outpatients less than 10 years old decreased after the accident. The number of outpatients less than 10 years old who underwent CT and X-ray examinations also significantly decreased after the accident (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the number of pediatric radiological examinations decreased after the accident in Fukushima. We should continue to communicate with patients and their families to ensure that they understand the risks and benefits of radiological imaging in order to overcome their concerns about the nuclear disaster.
AB - Purpose: The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has raised concerns about radiation exposure, including medical radiation exposure such as X-ray and CT, in residents of Fukushima. Materials and methods: We compared the numbers and the ratio of outpatients less than 10 years old who underwent imaging examinations [e.g., CT, X-ray, MRI, ultrasonography (US), etc.] at Fukushima Medical University hospital in Fukushima, Japan before (April 1, 2008–March 31, 2011) and after (April 1, 2011–March 31, 2014) the accident. Results: The number of outpatients less than 10 years old decreased after the accident. The number of outpatients less than 10 years old who underwent CT and X-ray examinations also significantly decreased after the accident (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the number of pediatric radiological examinations decreased after the accident in Fukushima. We should continue to communicate with patients and their families to ensure that they understand the risks and benefits of radiological imaging in order to overcome their concerns about the nuclear disaster.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11604-015-0464-8
DO - 10.1007/s11604-015-0464-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 26219903
AN - SCOPUS:84944514555
SN - 1867-1071
VL - 33
SP - 619
EP - 626
JO - Japanese journal of radiology
JF - Japanese journal of radiology
IS - 10
ER -