“Tell us about radiation and health!”⑵How is radiation used for medical treatments?
Examinations and therapy using the properties of radiation are common.
Editor’ s note: Herein, “radiation” refers to ionizing radiation.

For what purpose is radiation used in hospitals?
●It is widely used for diagnosis
and treatment of diseases.
X-ray and CT scans utilize radiation that passes
through the body to detect injuries and illnesses.
It is also used for cancer treatment. Radiation, surgery,and anticancer drugs are called the “three major
therapies of cancer.”

Do we have to undergo X-ray and CT scans?
●They are valuable for early detection and treatment of diseases.
Radiation can affect your health depending on
the dose received, a potential disadvantage.
On the other hand, X-rays and CT scans haveearlier than other means, so patients canundergo appropriate treatment.

ntages antages
AdvDisadva

the advantage of detecting some diseases

ges

AdvantantagesDisadva

Use of radiation is accepted when theadvantages brought about by receiving
radiation outweigh the disadvantages.

○Accept

×Do not accept

Is it OK to receive radiological examinations repeatedly?
●Please consider the necessary examinations by weighing theadvantages and disadvantages.
For radiation-based examinations, it is necessary to pay attention to the dose amounts received at one
time and the total dose amounts rather than just the number of times. Examinations are carried out by
adjusting the dose amounts of radiation so that impacts on health can be minimized.
If you have any questions or concerns about a radiological examination, consult your doctor.

Radiation dose amounts from medical treatment (annual)Compared with other countries, it is known that Japan uses relatively more radiation in medical care. Medical exposure toradiation often exceeds what is received from natural sources.
Japaneseaverage

2.1■ Natural radiation

3.87
1.47

■ Medical treatment

2.30

0.10
■ General X-ray diagnosis■ X-ray & CT scans■ OtherGlobal
average

2.4

010.6023456 (mSv/year)

Based on BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effects of Radiation published by the Ministry of the Environment (FY2019);
Methods for Proper Management of Medical Exposure at the Fourth Study Group on Proper Management of Medical Radiation (Jan.19,2018)
published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Medical treatments using radiation, and dose amounts received at one time
Based on BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effectsof Radiation published by the Ministry of the Environment(FY2019);(extraction of medical exposure)

The radiation dose amounts will differ significantly
depending on the type of examination or treatment.

(mSv)

Below 100 mSv, there isno convincing evidenceof adverse health eﬀects
from radiation.
PET scan/once(Gray)

10000

1010001Cancer treatment(doses only to treatment areas)

CT scan/once

1000.1
Cardiac catheter(skin doses)

10

Gastric X-ray examination/once

1

Units of radiation● GrayUnit showing how much energy is absorbed per
kilogram of something exposed to ionizing radiation.

Chest X-ray mass
examination/once

0.1● Sievert
Unit showing the biological eﬀects of ionizing radiation
on living bodies, organs, and tissues.
Both gray and sievert are units used to document theradiation exposure of patients.
Even for the same total does of radiation, eﬀects onthe human body will diﬀer depending on the type ofradiation and the body part(s) receiving the radiation.

If you have any questions orconcerns about aradiological examination,
ask your doctor!

0.01
Dental imaging

Publisher: Fukushima Medical Association
Editorial supervision: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima
Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University◎The contents of this leaflet canalso be seen on our website.