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Childhood CT scans increase risk of cancer: Study

Written by: QMI Agency
Jun. 7, 2012

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A new study from British researchers suggests radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood could triple the risk of leukemia and brain cancer.

The study by researchers at Newcastle University and at the National Cancer Institute looked at the records of more than 175,000 children and young adults over two decades. It included people up to 22 years old who underwent CT scans at British National Health Service hospitals between 1985 and 2002.

The researchers estimate that for every 10,000 head CT scans performed on children 10 years old or younger, one more case of leukaemia and one more brain tumour case would occur than would normally be expected.

"CT scans are accurate and fast so they should be used when their immediate benefits outweigh the long-term risks. However, now we have shown that CT scans increase the risk of cancer, we must ensure that when they are used they are fully justified from a clinical perspective," lead author Dr. Mark Pearce said in a release about the study.

"While the risks are small, the medical community needs to consider carefully its use of CT scans and refine their use as a priority. We need to look at worldwide regulation."

The researchers, though, emphasized that when a child suffers a major head injury or develops a life-threatening illness, the benefits of clinically appropriate CT scans should outweigh future cancer risks.

The study was published Thursday in the medical journal The Lancet.

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