Studies suggest dental X-rays could increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer
Recent studies have suggested that undergoing repeated dental X-rays could increase the risk of an individual developing thyroid cancer.
The studies, which were recently published in the Acta Oncologica journal, claim that both patients that have had a number of dental X-rays and professionals that work with X-rays have an increased risk of suffering from cancer of the thyroid gland. X-ray workers, dentists and dental assistants are at an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, meningiomas and salivary tumours as a result of being in regular contact with X-ray machines, according to the studies.
Two studies were conducted in this area of research; both involved around 300 people; one of the studies involved patients with thyroid cancer and the other involved control patients. The results of the study indicated that exposure to radiation contributed to thyroid cancer, while other factors including sex, age, nationality and gender had no effect.
Initial results indicate a strong link between exposure to radiation via X-rays and the development of cancer in the thyroid gland; however, researchers have stressed that further research in this area is required and it would be irresponsible to spread the news that there is a strong connection between dental X-rays and thyroid cancer at this moment in time. Researchers want to conduct studies involving larger numbers of patients in the near future.
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is this 10 x rays in total over years or in a short time