Causes of radiologists' deaths: a survey of 400 cases in the literature.

BACKGROUND

In their profession, radiologists use ionizing radiation, which has a negative effect on tissue and is a cause of various cancers and other diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the causes of radiologists' deaths in general and whether they are related with cancer as a cause of death.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The causes of 400 radiologists' deaths were analyzed retrospectively in this study based on descriptions available in the American Journal of Roentgenology from 1975 to 1999 and Radiology from 1970 to 1999, randomly chosen. The data were tabulated and discussion focused on cancer in relation with the cause of death. The analysis was done descriptively.

RESULTS

Among 400 cases in this study, it was found that the causes of death among radiologists were as follows: cancer (122=30.50%), cardiovascular diseases (65=16.25%), sudden death (56=14.00%), long-term illness (46=11.50%), short-term illness (29=7.25%), accident (25=6.25%), cerebral diseases (15=3.75%), lung diseases (8=2.00%), renal diseases (5=1.25%), unspecified during sleep (5=1.25%), diabetes (4=1.00%), hypertension (2=0.50%), others (16=4.00%).

CONCLUSION

Cancer was the main cause of death among radiologists in this study, which is similar to the results of other studies, followed by cardiovascular diseases and sudden death. Some cancers could be definitely identified, while among the cases, it was found that lung, prostate, and colon cancers were the most frequent.