Computed Tomography (CT) scans have revolutionized modern medicine with the ability to offer a rapid, accurate, and non-surgical glimpse into the human body. They are utilized to identify internal injuries to tumors, blood clots, and bone illness. However, a growing pool of research now reveals an alarming fact: while often unavoidable, CT scans carry an undercover price tag and an increased risk of cancer progression due to repeated radiation exposure.
A recent report published in JAMA Internal Medicine has placed this problem in stark relief, alerting to the mass and increasing use of CT scans. The study identified that the volume of scans performed in America has grown by more than 30% since 2007 and that 93 million CT scans were estimated to have been performed in 2023 alone.
Stunning Statistics: 103,000 Future Cancer Cases Caused by CT Scans
US and UK scientists estimated the number of cancer cases caused by CT scans at an upper limit of 5% of all new US cancer cases. Although the risk to each individual remains relatively low, the sheer volumes of use render infinitesimal risks a significant public health concern. The study puts up to 103,000 future cancer cases down to CT scans that were conducted in 2023.
Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, the lead epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, observes:
CT is frequently lifesaving, yet its potential harms are often overlooked, and even very small cancer risks will lead to a significant number of future cancers given the tremendous volume of CT use in the United States.
Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, Lead Epidemiologist, University of California, San Francisco
Radiation Exposure: Who's Most at Risk?
While high radiation is a known cancer risk, even ionizing radiation in small amounts, like that from CT scans, is under suspicion. Long-term experience with atomic bomb survivors and nuclear accidents shows that low exposures result in a small increase in lifetime cancer risk.
They are most susceptible in children and teenagers. An early-life CT scan especially in females is likely to increase the risk of thyroid or other cancer later in life.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers analyzed anonymous records of 143 hospitals and outpatient centers using the UCSF International CT Dose Registry. Trends from 2016 through 2022 enabled researchers to estimate CT use and levels of radiation, painting a sobering picture of the long-term danger of overuse of such scans. “To empirically quantify lifetime risk would require decades-long follow-up studies of very large populations," the author.
What You Should Know Before a CT Scan
Despite the concerns, CT scans remain essential to diagnose most medical conditions. If your doctor prescribes one, it is usually because the benefits outweigh the risks. However, knowledge is power:
Preparation for the Procedure
Wear loose clothing or a hospital gown.
Remove metal items like jewelry or glasses.
Fasting may be required before the scan.
Sedation may be recommended for infants or toddlers to reduce movement.
What happens during the scan
You'll be lying on a thin table that will slide into a large, donut-shaped machine.
An X-ray tube will rotate around you, recording cross-sectional images.
The scan is painless, but you may hear some machine noises.
Technicians will observe you from another room and may ask you to hold your breath.
Time Commitment
The whole procedure usually takes about 30 minutes, but the actual scan only takes a few minutes. Most people can resume normal activities immediately after.
Precaution Not Panic
CT scans are a very important diagnostic tool, yet heightened usage warrants vigilance. Physicians now should take care to decide whether every scan is truly essential, particularly in children and patients undergoing more than one imaging study.
Although you shouldn't avoid medically necessary scans, asking about the use of alternatives, dosage levels, and shielding can cut down on unnecessary exposure. In medicine, knowledge typically equals power.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
