FDA Leans On Device Makers To Cut X-Ray Doses For Kids

Scott Hensley, NPR News — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:24:34 +0000

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The Food and Drug Administration has a proposition for the companies that make X-ray machines.

Make sure your new equipment has settings and instructions that minimize radiation hazards for kids, or the agency will look to slap a label on the machines that recommends they not be used for children at all.

Photo by Benjamin Deutsch via Flickr

The agency proposed the approach today (); it’s the latest move to curb radiation hazards from imaging equipment.

X-rays and CT scans can provide doctors with lots of useful information. But the radiation that creates the helpful images also increases a person’s risk for cancer. There’s been an explosion in the use of imaging tests. And , particularly from , have drawn concern.

The cancer risk increases with the dose of X-rays received during a person’s lifetime, so kids’ exposure is particularly important. It’s also the case that .

The FDA is also telling parents to speak up. If a doctor orders a test or procedure that uses X-rays, parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask if it’s really necessary. Also, it doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s an acceptable alternative, such as ultrasound or MRI, that doesn’t rely on X-rays.

Even so, the agency doesn’t want people to forgo needed X-rays. “The risk from a medically necessary imaging exam is quite small when compared to the benefit of accurate diagnosis or intervention,” Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, head of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, . “There is no reason for patients who need these exams to avoid them.”

The agency scheduled a to talk about the proposal.

�ճ��, a trade group, said it looks forward to commenting on the FDA’s proposal and working with the agency.

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FDA Leans On Device Makers To Cut X-Ray Doses For Kids