Ionizing radiation exposure as a result of diagnostic imaging in patients with lymphoma

Purpose: Survival rates among patients with lymphoma continue to improve. Strategies aimed at reducing potential treatment-related toxicity are increasingly prioritized. While radiological procedures play an important role, ionizing radiation exposure has been linked to an increased risk of malignancy, particularly among individuals whose cumulative radiation exposure exceeds a specific threshold (75 millisieverts). Methods: Within this retrospective study, the cumulative radiation exposure dose was quantified for 486 consecutive patients with lymphoma. Results: The median estimated total cumulative effective dose (CED) of ionizing radiation per subject was 69 mSv (42–118). However, younger patients (under 40 years) had a median CED of 89 mSv (55–124). Conclusion: This study highlights the considerable radiation exposure occurring among patients with lymphoma as a result of diagnostic imaging. To limit the risk of secondary carcinogenesis, consideration should be given to monitoring cumulative radiation exposure in individual patients as well as considering imaging modalities, which do not impart an ionizing radiation dose.