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Answer to Question #996 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Exposures not directly to embryo/fetus The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
What is the fatal cancer risk for a child of 15 if his/her mother had a chest x ray during pregnancy?
A
The fatal cancer risk is not measurably elevated by the chest x ray
during pregnancy. The American Cancer Society provides comparison data
for cancer incidence. The Society estimates that the lifetime risk of
developing invasive cancer at any age in an American today is 43.48% in
a male and 38.34% in a female. The probability of developing cancer as
a result of the chest x ray is not known with certainty, but is
extremely unlikely to be greater than one in a million. It may also be
as low as zero. The lifetime risk of developing invasive cancer in the
exposed offspring would be less than 43.4801% in a male and 38.3401% in
a female. Since the spontaneous risks in unexposed individuals are not
known to that level of accuracy, then any cancer arising from the chest
x ray would be so rare as to be undetectable.
S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD
Answer posted on 25 June 2001. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
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