Protecting female healthworkers from ionising radiation at work

Exposure to ionising radiation during image guided procedures has been associated with a higher incidence of breast cancer in female healthcare workers.123456 Lead or lead equivalent gowns are used to reduce radiation exposure during image guided procedures, but studies have shown that current gowns provide inadequate protection to breast tissue as they leave the upper outer quadrant and axilla exposed.78

Ionising radiation is a known human carcinogen, and breast tissue is highly radiation sensitive, with a linear relationship between increasing exposure and increasing risk.9 One in seven women will develop breast cancer, and most are in the upper outer quadrant of the breast.10 Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease with genetic, environmental, and occupational risk factors. Ionising radiation is a mitigatable factor, and exposure should be kept as low as reasonably practicable.11 Providing protective gowns with adequate breast covering could reduce radiation exposure and potentially help prevent breast cancer in female healthcare workers.