Environmental Sustainability and Cancer Imaging.

Abstract

The rising global burden of cancer drives increased demands for medical imaging, which is essential throughout cancer care. However, delivering medical imaging presents significant environmental challenges including high energy use, reliance on single-use supplies, and the production of environmental pollutants. Environmental factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, wildfire smoke, and carcinogenic pollutants contribute to rising cancer rates, while extreme weather events driven by climate change disrupt cancer care delivery-highlighting the close connection between patient and planetary health. This review explores opportunities to improve the environmental sustainability of oncologic imaging, emphasizing the importance of patient-relevant outcomes-such as quality of life and overall survival-as a guiding principle in cancer care. Key strategies include optimizing imaging schedules to reduce low-value imaging, selecting modalities with lower environmental impact where clinically appropriate, minimizing waste streams, and adopting energy-efficient practices. Artificial intelligence offers the potential to personalize imaging schedules and improve efficiency, though its benefits must be weighed against energy use. Mobile imaging programs and integrated scheduling reduce patient travel-related emissions while promoting health equity, particularly in underserved communities. Future research should focus on optimizing imaging intervals to address patient-relevant outcomes better, expanding the use of abbreviated imaging protocols, and the judicious deployment of artificial intelligence, ensuring its benefits justify energy use.