Medical radiation exams surge 30% in 5 years, prompting calls to reduce exposure

The number of medical radiation examinations in South Korea, including CT scans, has surged by approximately 30% over the past five years, reaching 431.59 million procedures last year, averaging 8.4 exams per person. Health authorities are now calling for a reduction in unnecessary radiation tests and excessive patient exposure.

The '2025 National Medical Radiation Assessment Yearbook,' released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), revealed that general X-ray imaging constituted the largest portion of these exams at 76.4%. Dental imaging followed at 12.4%, with mammography at 5.2% and CT scans at 3.8%.

However, CT scans accounted for the most significant radiation dose, representing 67.1% of the total exposure. While CT scans are crucial for diagnosing conditions in the brain, lungs, and abdomen, their higher radiation levels compared to standard X-rays contribute to their disproportionate impact on overall exposure.

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Medical radiation exams are essential medical services for protecting public health, so necessary tests should be received with confidence, but unnecessary tests and excessive exposure must be reduced.

The increase in medical radiation exams is attributed to expanded health check-ups and an aging population, leading to greater utilization of radiation-based diagnostics for various conditions. Correspondingly, radiation exposure also rose by 22.6% over the same period, from an average of 2.64 millisieverts (mSv) per person in 2021 to 3.24 mSv last year.

International guidelines recommend limiting artificial radiation exposure, excluding natural background radiation and medical procedures, to 1 mSv per year for the general public. While the average medical exposure remains within acceptable limits, the rising trend raises concerns about potential long-term health risks, such as an increased likelihood of developing cancer and cataracts.

KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-gwan emphasized that while medical radiation exams are essential for public health, "unnecessary tests and excessive exposure must be reduced." The agency plans to continue distributing guidelines for medical professionals on appropriate use of medical imaging and diagnostic reference levels to foster a safer and more suitable environment for radiation use.

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We will continue to distribute the 'Guidelines for Appropriateness of Medical Imaging Diagnosis' and 'Diagnostic Reference Levels' for medical professionals to create a safe and appropriate usage environment.