Radiation exposure in neurosurgical intensive care unit patients: Balancing diagnostic benefits and long-term risks.

Background: X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) techniques are indispensable in managing critically ill neurosurgical patients. However, repeated diagnostic imaging leads to cumulative radiation exposure, raising concerns about long-term risks such as malignancies. This study evaluates the frequency, dosage, and implications of radiation exposure in a neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) patient cohort.