Encrypted | Login

Policy number Policy name Policy date Sunset date
PS 4-B AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 11/16/2023 12/31/2028
Section
Policy source
November 16, 2023 Board of Directors Meeting
Policy text

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) unreservedly acknowledges the essential value of diagnostic imaging in medicine. Its use, as in the case of any medical procedure, should be clinically justified and optimized, including the use of an appropriate radiation dose necessary to accomplish the intended clinical task. Medical physicists are essential and qualified professionals who ensure that radiation-related medical procedures are performed at the highest quality and with the utmost safety to maximally benefit patients.

There is a theoretical bioeffect associated with any level of radiation dose. However, at dose levels required for the vast majority of diagnostic imaging procedures, there is no conclusive epidemiological evidence to realize any deleterious effect or unequivocally predict an associated cancer incidence. Such predictions are subject to significant uncertainty and should not unduly influence the decision for a justified procedure. The anticipated benefits to the patient from a necessary diagnostic imaging substantially outweigh any potential radiation effect.

Policy version history
Policy number Policy name Policy date Sunset date Active?
PP 25-A AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 12/13/2011 3/20/2017 Inactive
PP 25-B AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 3/21/2017 4/9/2018 Inactive
PP 25-C AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 4/10/2018 12/31/2023 Inactive
PS 4-A AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 4/10/2018 12/31/2023 Inactive
PS 4-B AAPM Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures 11/16/2023 12/31/2028 Active

Return to Policy Home