The Impact of the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic on the Radiation-Induced Cancer Risk in Zanjan, Iran

Background: The coronavirus resulted in a global pandemic and infected millions of people worldwide in ۲۰۱۹. The number of chest CT scans significantly increased due to the virus's effect on the upper respiratory tract. This retrospective cross-sectional analytic study aimed to investigate the COVID-۱۹ effect on the number of chest CT scans and to estimate the probability of radiation-induced cancers as a result of the incremental number of scans in hospitals in Zanjan, Iran. Methods: This study included all chest CT scans performed during a three-month period before the pandemic (۲۰۱۹) and the pandemic (۲۰۲۰). In ۲۰۲۰, the scans were meticulously examined for COVID-۱۹ signs, and relevant epidemiological and dosimetric factors were recorded to calculate the risk of radiation-induced cancer using the IRCP۱۰۳. Results: The results reveal a four-fold increase in the number of scans in ۲۰۲۰, with ۹۰۹۵ scans compared to ۲۲۳۵ in ۲۰۱۹. Patients referred for a chest CT scan during the COVID-۱۹ outbreak were significantly younger. Although the Dose-length Product (DLP) decreased in ۲۰۲۰, the anticipated number of new cases of radiation-induced cancers exhibited an approximately four-fold increase for different organs in the thorax region. Also, ۵۵.۶% of CT scans were considered normal in ۲۰۲۰. Conclusion: The current study shows that the high probability of radiation-induced cancers should be considered the long-term effects of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chest CT scans ، Absorbed dose ، Neoplasm ، Coronavirus ، Pandemic