In 2021, the number of x-ray examinations and procedures performed in Finnish health care has decreased by more than 270,000 when compared to the numbers three years earlier. However, in specialized medical care, the number of radiological examinations and procedures that expose to radiation is increasing.
A total of 5.7 million x-ray examinations and procedures were performed in Finland in 2021. The last time the situation was surveyed was in 2018 and, after that, the number of examinations and procedures has decreased by 4.8%.
In 2021, a total of 64,809 specialized radiological and cardiological procedures were performed, which means 12 studies per thousand inhabitants. The volume of these procedures increased by 27% from 2018. The trend has been the same for a long time before 2018.
The information can be found in the report of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority’s report “Number of radiological examinations in Finland in 2021”. One of the tasks of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority under the Radiation Act is to collect and publish information on the medical use of radiation.
Of the x-ray examinations and procedures carried out in 2021, 47% were conventional and contrast radiography examinations, 39% were dental x-ray examinations and 11% were computed tomography examinations.
In addition to x-ray examinations, 1.2 million magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound examinations and procedures were reported in Finland. The number of reported magnetic resonance imaging examinations increased significantly from 2018. As these examinations and procedures do not expose to ionizing radiation, STUK does not monitor their quantities comprehensively.
Supervision report Radiologisten tutkimustenja toimenpiteiden määrät vuonna 2021 (in Finnish)
Additional information:
Section Head Petra Tenkanen-Rautakoski, tel. +328 9 75 98 8603
Media contacts, tel. +358 10 850 4761
