CT Scans May Increase the Risk of Cancer, Study Suggests

Published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, this study suggests that the growing use of CT scans in the United States could lead to a significant rise in future cancer cases. The researchers estimate that scans performed in 2023 alone may eventually cause over 100,000 additional cases. This marks a sharp increase from a 2009 projection of 29,000 cases and reflects both a rise in scan numbers and improved understanding of radiation exposure to specific organs.

Significantly, the study highlights that CT-related cancers could soon rival those linked to alcohol or obesity, especially as an estimated 93 million scans were conducted on 62 million people in the United States in 2023 – a 30 percent increase over the last decade. While individual risk from a single scan is low, cumulative exposure, particularly in adults and vulnerable groups like children, poses a notable concern.

Previously, a multinational study of almost one million people published in 2023 confirmed a strong and clear association between exposure to radiation from CT scans in young people and an increased risk of blood cancers. Other research has shown links between CT scans and an increased risk of thyroid cancer and leukemia, as well as a higher risk of brain cancer in children.

To learn how to use diagnostic technologies wisely for the benefit of your health, see this article on our website.