U.S. Radiologic Technologists Cohort (USRT) - The Rad Tech Study

The U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Study—also known as the Rad Tech Study—is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota, the National Cancer Institute Radiation Epidemiology Branch, and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) to investigate potential radiation-related health effects from low-dose occupational radiation exposure. The ubiquitous nature of this exposure from occupational, medical, and environmental sources makes it an important public health concern.

See the complete list of publications from the Rad Tech Study (NCBI Collection).

About the Study

Image depicting central registry linking to multiple desktop computers

Virtual Pooled Registry (VPR) to Ascertain Cancer

VPR streamlines and automates linking to cancer registries.

The Rad Tech Study began in 1982 by identifying 146,022 current and former radiologic technologists who were certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for at least two years from 1926 through 1982. The study cohort includes technologists certified in radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, and other imaging specialties. More than 110,000 radiologic technologists — current and former — have completed one or more questionnaires about their work history, health status, and other factors. Through their participation, we are learning more each year about radiation and health.

The objectives of the study are to assess risks for cancer and other diseases from

Long-term low-dose occupational and personal medical ionizing radiation exposures
Occupational exposures among technologists who perform nuclear medicine and fluoroscopically guided diagnostic interventional procedures
Solar ultraviolet radiation exposures (for skin and other cancers)

The key goal is to understand how repeated low-dose occupational ionizing radiation exposures, such as those potentially experienced by radiologic technologists, are related to cancer and other health conditions.

A Unique Resource

The Rad Tech Study is unique because:

It is the largest and most comprehensive study of people exposed to radiation in medical jobs and includes individualized organ and tissue dosimetry based on dosimeter records and self-reported work history.
Participants come from all U.S. states and territories. Widely varying solar UV exposures affords a rare opportunity to assess risks for melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and other cancers that may be associated with ultraviolet radiation.
The large proportion of women (73%) in the cohort enables studies of radiation-related cancer risks for the two most radiosensitive organs, breast, and thyroid. The availability of biospecimens allows for identifying and replicating genetic determinants of breast and thyroid cancers and interactions between occupational radiation exposure and genetic factors.

This cohort is suited to address gaps in our scientific understanding of radiation risks according to dose-rate of exposure, that is, whether disease risks are similar for comparable cumulative radiation doses from a single or a few high-dose exposures (e.g. atomic bomb, radiotherapy) or from many small doses received over a protracted period that may be mitigated by DNA repair or other mechanisms (e.g. occupational exposures).

The study conducted four major surveys during 1983-2014 with follow-up questionnaires to those who reported working with radioisotope or fluoroscopically-guided procedures.

Select Study Results

The Rad Tech Study has yielded important findings related to health risks from repeated exposure to relatively low doses of ionizing radiation, including positive associations between cumulative lifetime radiation exposure and risks of female breast cancer, lung cancer, and cataracts.

The cohort has also been a valuable resource for investigating the effects of ultraviolet light exposure and other lifestyle factors on cancer and other health outcomes, including the growing prevalence of obesity and the nature of the relationship between body mass index and all-cause mortality. In addition, investigators are studying the risk of cancer associated with physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Data from the USRT is being pooled with other epidemiologic studies to replicate common genetic variants associated with breast cancer from genome-wide association studies.

See the complete list of publications from the Rad Tech Study (NCBI Collection).

Survey Questionnaires

First Survey 1983 - 1989	Focus: Collect information about radiation exposure on the job, personal medical radiation, medical outcomes (cancer and selected conditions), family history, and other risk factors Mailed to ~132,000 living technologists 90,305 (68%) completed full questionnaire; 14,199 (11%) completed abbreviated questionnaire about medical outcomes only
Second Survey 1994 - 1998	Focus: Update medical outcomes (cancers and selected conditions) since the first survey, update employment histories, personal medical radiation exposures, gynecologic and reproductive histories, and other cancer risk factors Mailed to ~127,000 living technologists 90,972 (72%) completed the questionnaire
Third Survey 2003 - 2005	Focus: Update medical outcomes (cancers and selected conditions), obtain new information about work history, personal medical radiation procedures, and sun exposure to estimate occupational, personal medical, and ultraviolet radiation exposures Mailed to ~103,000 living technologists who completed one or both of the previous surveys. 73,625 (72%) completed, including 2,744 technologists who began working before 1950 and completed a telephone interview
Fourth Survey 2012 - 2014	Focus: Update medical outcomes (cancers and selected conditions), work history, cancer risk factors, obtain new information about nightshift work, physical activity, sleep patterns, and sun exposure Mailed to approximately 94,000 living technologists who completed one or more surveys in the past 58,484 (62%) completed the questionnaire
Fluoroscopically-Guided Procedures Questionnaire 2013	Focus: Obtain detailed calendar-specific information about diagnostic and interventional fluoroscopically-guided procedures performed, related work practices, and safety measures employed Mailed to ~22,000 participants who reported they worked with fluoroscopically-guided procedures

Contact Us

For more information, contact Dr. Cari Kitahara.

If you wish to contact the University of Minnesota Research staff, call 612-626-0900 or e-mail.

U.S. Radiologic Technologists Study
University of Minnesota MMC 807
420 Delaware Street S.E., Suite 1260
Minneapolis, MN 55455