CT Scans Radiation Increases Cancer Risk

Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, from the University of California in San Francisco, claims that overexposure to CT scan radiations can increase cancer risk.

According to a new study, she claims that these scans may cause 29,000 new cancers a year and 14,500 deaths.

Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)
Computed Tomography (CT) scan is a type of medical examination that uses X-rays and computer processing to create sectional images of the body to provide more efficient results than X-rays.

Also, previous studies suggest that the average American's total radiation exposure has almost doubled since 1980, primarily because of CT scans.

"It is a little scary. Everything we do in medicine has risks and benefits," the New York Daily News quoted Smith-Bindman, the study author, as saying.

According to experts, a single scan may not be harmful but overexposure can increase the risk of cancer.

Radiation Doses and Cancer Risks from CT Scans Revealed by New Studies
Two studies say that doses of radiation from commonly performed computed tomography (CT) scans vary widely and appear higher than generally believed

Smith-Bindman said: "It's necessary to start keeping track of dosages for individual patients.

"You have to record the radiation and make it part of the patient record just like you would if a patient has an allergy to certain medicines.

US FDA Urges Review Of Safety Protocols For CT Scans
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a nationwide alert to hospitals urging review of their safety protocols for CT scans.

"If a patient has had 10 CTs that year, that is an important piece of information for the person taking care of you."

However, Smith-Bindman believes that CT scans can be made safer, as up to one-third of these scans aren't medically necessary, since even three-dimensional pictures can also diagnose cancers, aneurysms and blood clots.

Doctors Bedside Exam 'more Effective Than CT Scan'
A high-tech CT scan may not be needed if you have an efficient physician, whose bedside exam can often be more effective,, a new study claims.

She concluded: "Just like we can make the driving experience safer - not to text or talk on the phone - we can make these scans a lot safer and we should. We have the technology and science to do that. Life is risky - so why not do everything possible to make it safer?"

Source-ANI
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