Mammography does not cause thyroid cancer Concerns have been raised due to the spread of misinformation regarding the small dose of radiation received by a woman during a mammogram can increase the chances of developing thyroid cancer. This concern is not supported by scientific evidence. The radiation dose to the thyroid from a mammogram is very low. The thyroid is not exposed directly to X-ray beam used to image the breast and receives only a small amount scattered radiation (from 0.003 to 0.004 mGy). This is equivalent to 30 minutes of natural background radiation received by any person from natural sources. For annual mammogram between the ages of 40-80 years, the risk of thyroid cancer induced by this small dose of radiation is extremely small (less than 1 in 17.8 million women screened). This risk is insignificant compared to the benefit of the performance of screening with annual mammography. Mammography as a screening test saves lives, since it can detect breast cancers at a stage when cure is possible (achieved a reduction in breast cancer mortality of at least 30%). For these reasons the use of a thyroid protector has no scientific basis and in some cases may affect the optimal position for performing mammography, which can reduce the quality of the image and interfere with diagnosis. Author: Dr. Gustavo Febles Source: - Statement of the American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging on thyroid radiation received during mammography, April 2011. www.acr.org - www.MammographySavesLives.org - AJR 2012: 198, 705-707. - Journal of Radiology Argentina 2012: 76 (2), 143-144