Caution warranted for low-dose radiation therapy for Covid-19.

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 is a morbid respiratory disease that has caused desperate times on a global scale due to the lack of any effective medical treatment. Some in the radiation community are actively proposing low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for managing the viral pneumonia associated with Covid-19. This commentary provides a rationale for exercising caution against such a decision as the efficacy of LDRT for viral diseases is unknown, while its long-term adverse risks are well known.