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[Nestor]

Not meaning to scare the crap out of people but I came across this paper stating the potential increased risk of testicular cancer from x-rays:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239321#sec006

It's not definitive but the study is slightly concerning for those of us who have had multiple x-rays below the waist. I've read that the radiation dose is lower for limbs than other body parts so I don't know how relevant this study is for us, hopefully it isn't but at the same time it's hard not to worry. Does anyone with any medical experience know more about this?

[JJ299]

Bruh did you even read your paper. It literally says while there is a correlation between TGCT and diagnostic radition there are no concrete evidence between the two ( a classic example of correlation does not mean causation). It could be that people that were already high risk for TGCT had to get more diagnosis/x-rays done because they had underlying symptoms that required it ( just throwing a random variable ).

That being said X-ray can cause cancer, but for the average person that aren't exposed to it every living hour it's basically a drop in the ocean. That's why Doctors always wear full on lead aprons and try not to enter the room where the X-ray is taking place ( these are the type of people that quite literally do X-rays multiple times every hour ).

[Nestor]

Yes I did read the paper, that's why I said it's not definitive You are 100% correct though about correlation v causation, there could be numerous other factors involved causing the disease in each particular patient.

My main concern is how worried should I or others be who have had multiple x-rays in a relatively short period. I get that 1 or 2 is just a drop in the ocean as you say but I had around 10 x-rays (front/side views) in a 5 month period which personally feels a lot although necessary at the time to monitor bone growth.

[randy]

Did they not shield your male parts during xrays?

[Nestor]

No. But apparently shielding doesn't make any difference and in some cases actually increases radiation exposure according to new research.

If it were just a one off x-ray I wouldn't be worried but a high number over a short time span has me a little concerned. I'd be curious to know what the average radiation dose is for those type of scans.

[AllinStryde]

Nothing to worry about regarding CLL.  You get xrays every 2 weeks or so.  So that's about 6 sets of bilateral femurs, or tibias over a 3 month period.  You'll get a couple post-consolidation films done to check up on healing.  Then you will get a set or 2 when you have rod removal.  All that over the course of like 2-3 years.  Nothing to worry about.  You get 100x that on one single chest-abdomen-pelvis CT.  I work with xrays and radiation every day, and have done CLL, so this is very much in my wheelhouse...nothing to worry about.  Worry about you PT

[boklecrt]

Nothing to worry about regarding CLL.  You get xrays every 2 weeks or so.  So that's about 6 sets of bilateral femurs, or tibias over a 3 month period.  You'll get a couple post-consolidation films done to check up on healing.  Then you will get a set or 2 when you have rod removal.  All that over the course of like 2-3 years.  Nothing to worry about.  You get 100x that on one single chest-abdomen-pelvis CT.  I work with xrays and radiation every day, and have done CLL, so this is very much in my wheelhouse...nothing to worry about.  Worry about you PT

Thank you for the competent opinion

About CT scans, does this hold true for CT scans which are done hips/femur/tibia - done twice on top of the other xrays?

For my surgery I had

before surgery
1 xray half body
4 xrays - 2 front 2 sides

after surgery
4 xrays on the day after surgery - 2 front, 2 sides
4 xrays on day 7
4 xrays on day ~ 30
4 xrays day 50
CT scan hip/femur/tibia
4 xrays day after frame removal
4 xrays 2 weeks post frame removal
4 xrays 6 weeks post frame removal
CT scan hip/femur/tibia

Thoughts on this amount?

This is the type of xray I had


The image is very sharp and bright, does this mean it was hit with a lot of radiation to produce a sharp image?

Appreciate it

[AllinStryde]

Well, in short, the thicker the body part, the more xrays and higher intensity is required to image that part.  So extremities are treated with far less xrays than and kind of body, thoracic, abdominal regions.  You can also always ask for gonadal shielding ,so no scatter radiation will reach that area. And  yes, CT scans on extremities have the beams turned way, way down when imaging extremities.  Best of luck in lengthening my friend!