Answer to Question #1802 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I worked in a childrens' dental office for over 10 years. I held the children in my lap during the x rays. I had a lead apron on but nothing on my neck. I now have thyroid cancer. I did this procedure three to four times a day, 10-20 x rays a day. I was told by several people that overexposure to radiation caused my thyroid cancer. What do you think?

A

It is not possible to provide a definitive answer to the question of what caused your thyroid cancer. We have no information on the dose of radiation you received—but even if we had clear dosimetry data it would not be possible to answer your question. The best we can say is that it seems likely that your cancer arose from causes other than your occupational exposure to radiation. The thyroid gland of children is very sensitive to radiation effects; in adults, the sensitivity is greatly reduced. Radiation, however, cannot be definitively ruled out as a cause of your cancer. Incidentally, all authorities now recommend that no occupationally exposed personnel hold patients during x-ray exposure. Family members or other nonexposed people should be used for this purpose, and they should wear appropriate protective devices.
Conclusion: Inconclusive. Your x-ray exposure could have contributed to your cancer—but it seems unlikely.

S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD