Increased cancer risk among surgeons in an orthopaedic hospital

Abstract BACKGROUND: Five cancer cases over 7 years were reported in a small orthopaedic hospital where radiation protection practice was poor. AIM: To investigate whether workers subject to routine radiation dosimetric assessment in that hospital had an increased cancer risk. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight workers subject to routine dose assessment and 158 age-sex-matched unexposed workers were questioned about cancer occurrence. All tumours were analysed as a single diagnostic category. RESULTS: Cumulative 1976-2000 cancer incidence was 29 (9/31), 6 (8/125) and 4% (7/158) in orthopaedics, exposed other than orthopaedics, and unexposed workers, respectively. At logistic regression analysis, working as orthopaedic surgeon significantly (P<0.002) increased the risk of tumours. CONCLUSION: These findings caution against surgeons' underestimation of the potential radiation risk and insufficient promotion of safe work practices by their health care institutions.