Numerous pieces of evidence point to fluoroscopy as likely to be the dominant source of radiation breast-exposure. We contemplate with amazement Braestrup's comment that New York City passed an ordinance forbidding fluoroscopic exposures higher than 100 Roentgens per exam. There can simply be no doubt that dermatological use of radium gamma rays and x-rays up through 1960 can only be described as massive. We know that the dermatologists prided themselves on the therapy of some 80 different dermatological disorders, wholly aside from any therapy of superficial or deep cancers. We know that this continued unabated over many decades.
Skin disorders are common.
Doses were high. Chapter 36 lists many disorders for which radiation therapy must have caused breast-irradiation, sometimes or often. The major omissions, discussed above, are not the only issue. Even the entries in the Master Table represent a credible lower limit of breast-dose from the sources to which they apply. Yet we know that the Nova Scotia studies considered 7.5 rads as the proper dose, based upon the direction of the radiation introduction to patients.