X-rays carry a small risk of damaging DNA which can lead to cancer. Why are they still used by doctors?

Despite the risk of DNA damage and cancer production, X-rays are still used by doctors because the benefit of this diagnostic study outweighs the risk, which in most cases is very low.

Explanation:

Diagnostic radiology studies, such as X-rays and CT scans, are procedures that use ionizing radiation to obtain images of the inside of the body. Prolonged or constant exposure to this type of radiation is harmful because there is a risk of producing damage to DNA and can lead to the development of cancer.

However, the use of X-rays and CT scans are non-invasive diagnostic methods whose information provides an accurate diagnosis of a disease and, when well used, has a very low risk of organ damage.

Ionizing radiation is measured in milisieverts (mSv) and exposure from radiologic studies is in the range of 0.1 to 10 mSv per study. The amount of ionizing radiation a person is expected to receive per year from exposure to their environment is in the order of 3 to 5 mSv per year, so diagnostic imaging studies involve a low risk of organ damage.

Doctors continue to use X-rays as a diagnostic study, despite the risk of cancer and DNA damage, because the benefit —accessible, noninvasive, and cost-effective— far outweighs the risk.

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