Radiation Exposure News and Research

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Coronary artery calcium scan may be most valuable for a specific group of patients

It's an increasingly popular scan that measures calcium in the heart's arteries and helps predict risk of future heart disease.

26 Aug 2026

Protecting the thymus may improve lung cancer treatment outcomes

Building on recent discoveries about the adult thymus, Mass General Brigham investigators used artificial intelligence to show that incidental radiation exposure to the thymus may influence outcomes in patients with lung cancer.

25 Aug 2026

Study links thymus radiation to worse lung cancer outcomes

Until recently, the thymus was thought to be of little use beyond puberty, but new research has shown that radiation to the organ is associated with worse outcomes in patients being treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

25 Aug 2026

AI model predicts cancer diagnoses up to a year in advance using routine clinical data

Researchers developed Oncoformer, a multimodal transformer that analyzes longitudinal health records and chest X-rays to classify cancer, predict diagnoses up to one year in advance, infer tumor stage, and forecast treatment response and recurrence risk. Validation across large independent cohorts showed strong performance, although prospective trials in diverse, average-risk populations are needed before clinical use.

28 Jul 2026

First diagnostic X-rays in space expand medical capabilities for astronauts

A team of crew members aboard a commercial spaceflight acquired the first diagnostic X-rays during an orbital flight.

14 Jul 2026

Molecular changes in the liver of space travelers provide clues about aging

What happens to the human body in space may help scientists create new anti-aging therapies.

7 Jul 2026

New protocol screens clinical research participants for prior radiation exposure

A new study highlights a critical gap: most clinical research studies that use imaging techniques such as amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans do not account for the radiation participants have already received from prior medical procedures.

29 May 2026

Researchers discover how overpopulation reduces fertility

Scientists have reported it for decades: Overpopulation can impair reproduction.

21 May 2026

AI eye scans reveal who may be at higher risk of osteoporosis

RetiAGE, an AI-derived retinal biological age score, was associated with lower bone mineral density and higher fracture risk scores in older Singaporean adults. In the UK Biobank, older retinal biological age also predicted future osteoporosis, suggesting routine retinal imaging could eventually support opportunistic osteoporosis risk screening.

17 May 2026

Lab-grown diamonds enable highly-sensitive radiation dose measurements

A team led by researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Tohoku University and Orbray Co., Ltd., using heteroepitaxial diamond materials developed by Orbray, have shown that lab-grown diamonds might realize a radiation dosimeter compatible with both medical diagnosis and radiation therapy.

10 May 2026

Survey shows women are confused about when to start mammograms

A new national survey reveals many women are unsure about when to start mammogram screening for breast cancer and believe they should start later than doctors recommend.

29 Apr 2026

ACP recommends biennial mammography for women aged 50 to 74

New guidance from the American College of Physicians (ACP) says all asymptomatic, average-risk females ages 50 to 74 should receive biennial screening mammography for breast cancer.

17 Apr 2026

Microneedle nanoparticle platform improves lymphatic imaging with high resolution

The lymphatic system plays a critical role in pathological conditions such as lymphedema and chronic inflammation to tumor metastasis, venous insufficiency, and impaired wound healing, making accurate evaluation of its structure and function increasingly important.

13 Apr 2026

Crisis-driven maternal psychological stress can affect fetal development and birth outcomes

Fetal development is a critical stage with effects that can last throughout life. Yet, identifying the effects of maternal psychological stress on the fetus has been difficult, mainly because stressful events often produce psychological and physical consequences that directly affect mothers and their children.

8 Apr 2026

Thymus health in adults linked to longer life and disease risk

Two new studies from investigators at Mass General Brigham challenge a decades-old assumption that the thymus, an organ best known for its role in establishing immune function in childhood, becomes irrelevant in adulthood.

18 Mar 2026

Robot-assisted system found to be feasible for diagnostic cerebral angiography

Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases, including intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and arterial stenosis.

13 Mar 2026

Hormonal imbalance and gut microbes linked to cognitive deficits in patients with PitNETs

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are commonly associated with visual disturbances and endocrine abnormalities; however, many patients also experience cognitive deficits, particularly in memory, attention, and executive function, which significantly affect quality of life.

9 Mar 2026

Living near nuclear power plants is associated with higher cancer mortality, national US study reports

A nationwide ecological study of US counties from 2000 to 2018 found that greater proximity to operational nuclear power plants was associated with higher cancer mortality rates, particularly among adults aged 65–74 years. The analysis used inverse-distance weighting within 200 km and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare factors, but did not measure individual radiation exposure.

1 Mar 2026

New approach to reducing radiation toxicity

Radiation therapy is highly effective at killing cancer cells, but it often harms healthy skin around the treatment area, a common side effect experienced by up to 95% of cancer patients undergoing treatment. In worst-case scenarios, it can result in delayed or halted treatment.

26 Feb 2026

Prenatal lead exposure linked to lower cognition six decades later

Exposure to lead before birth is associated with lower performance 60 years later on tests of thinking and memory skills in female participants, according to a study published on February 18, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Feb 2026