The truth about CT scans

CT scans are probably « guilty » for 5% of the total cancer diagnosed annually, according to a new study of researchers at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). Researchers warn that it should not be abused by the highly… popular imaging.

The truth about CT scans

Based on a study funded by US National Institutes of Health (NII) and published in the medical journal Jama Internal Medicinethe risk is greater for infants with children and adolescents to follow. However, adults are also in danger – given that they are the ones who are more likely to undergo such an examination.

« CT scans can save lives but possible damage due to them are often overlooked. »

Researchers’ analysis showed that only 103,000 cases of cancer are projected to occur in the US as a result of the 93 million computed tomographs held in the country in 2023. This prediction is 3 to 4 times higher than those that have been done to date, the study authors emphasize.

« CT scans can save lives but possible damage due to them are often overlooked. » mentioned the first writer of the study Rebecca Smith-BindmanRadiologist and Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics as well as Obstetric-Gynecology and Science of Reproduction in UCSF and added that « Our estimates put computed tomography in the important risk factors for cancer such as alcohol consumption and excessive weight. By reducing the number of axials and also reducing the dose of radiation perxial we will save lives.  »

Computed tomography is a necessary examination in many cases and widely used for the detection of tumors and to diagnose many other diseases other than cancer. However, it is a test that exposes patients to ionizing radiation – a well -known carcinogen – and it is longly accepted to be associated with a risk of cancer.

In order to assess the impact on public health by the use of computed tomography, the researchers analyzed 93 million axials held in 61.5 million patients in the US in 2023. The number of axials, as the study showed, increased with age, reaching 69. 4.2% of the axials involved children.

As it emerged from the analysis, adults 50 to 59 were the largest number of future cancers for whom the « guilty » will be the axial: 10,400 cases provided for women and 9,300 for men. The most common predicted cancers in adults were lung, colon, bladder and breast as well as leukemia. The most commonly predicted cancers for children who had undergone axial were thyroid, lung and breast.

The largest predicted number of cancers in adults appeared to be associated with axial and pelvic axial and in children with axial heads.

The greatest risk of future cancer involved people who had undergone axial under the age of year – these people were 10 times more likely to develop cancer compared to the rest.

Researchers have noted that sometimes axial does not help patients, such as in the case of upper respiratory tract infections or headaches without worrying symptoms. However, it is often abused. They recommended that fewer axial conducts when they are not absolutely necessary or low -dose of radiation. « At the moment there are unacceptable deviations in radiation doses used in CT scans – some patients receive overdose » said Dr. Smith-Bindman.

OR Malini Mathedraone of the main authors of the study, Assistant Professor of Emergency Care in UCSF stressed that it is important for families to know the dangers that computed tomographs for young children may prevail.

« In very few patients and their families, the risk of computed tomographs are linked. We hope that the findings of our study will help doctors better calculate the risk of cancer and communicate it, thereby allowing better decisions to be made for each patient in which the benefits and risks of submission to CT scan will be properly weighed.  »