Review of Radiation Risk in Breast Screening

NHSBSP Publication No 54 published February 2003

PDF 207Kb - ISBN 1 871997 99 2

This review considers the risks and benefits of using ionising radiation to screen for breast cancer in the context of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. Estimates are made of the numbers of cancers detected by screening and the numbers of lives saved, and also of the number of lives lost owing to radiation-induced cancers. The ratio of lives saved to lost is calculated as a benefit-risk ratio of approximately 100:1. It is concluded that the current and proposed screening regimes in the NHSBSP are justified in radiation protection terms.

Report by a Joint Working Party of the NHSBSP National Coordinating Group for Physics Quality Assurance and the National Radiological Protection Board.

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NHS Breast Cancer Screening Publications