Use of radiation in health care
Radiation is used for the benefit of patients in medical examinations and treatments. X-ray examinations, for example, play a key role in diagnosing diseases. In addition to the benefits, radiation also causes hazards. Even a small radiation dose increases the risk of developing cancer. Radiographic examinations, radiotherapy and the use of radioactive substances must be assessed so that the benefits of using radiation outweigh the hazards.
Radiographic examinations
Approximately 3.6 million radiographic examinations are performed in Finland each year, in addition to approximately 2.3 million ordinary dental imaging examinations and almost 400,000 panoramic dental imaging examinations.