• A groundbreaking study from the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that CT scans could be responsible for approximately 103,000 future cancer cases in the U.S., potentially accounting for five percent of all new cancer diagnoses annually.
• The study published in JAMA Internal Medicine analyzed 93 million CT examinations on 62 million patients in 2023. It found that even small individual risks, when multiplied by the vast number of scans, pose a significant public health issue.
• Adults are projected to develop about 93,000 (91 percent) of the future cancer cases, while children, due to their developing tissues, face higher risks per scan. The highest risks are for children undergoing scans before their first birthday.
• Common cancers linked to CT scans include lung (22,400 cases), colon (8,700 cases), leukemia (7,900 cases) and bladder (7,100 cases). Abdominal and pelvic scans account for nearly 40 percent of projected cancers, while chest scans contribute about 21 percent.
• Medical groups have launched initiatives to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure, such as the Image Gently campaign for pediatric imaging. The study emphasizes the need for justified use and optimized dose, including reducing multiphase scanning, to balance the benefits and risks of CT technology.

Millions of Americans undergo CT scans each year for a variety of medical reasons, ranging from injury assessments to disease diagnoses. However, a groundbreaking study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has raised significant concerns about the long-term health impacts of these scans.

The study published in the prestigious journal JAMA Internal Medicine examined 93 million CT examinations performed on 62 million patients in 2023. Using data from multiple medical centers, the researchers calculated the radiation doses for different scan types and patient groups.

Their findings revealed a troubling trend. Even small cancer risks, when multiplied by the vast number of CT scans performed, add up to a significant public health issue. (Related: Radiation from CT scans tied to 5% of cancer cases, experts urge caution.)

According to the research, CT scans could be responsible for approximately 103,000 future cancer cases in the U.S., stemming from just one year’s worth of scans. If current practices continue, CT-related cancers could eventually account for five percent of all new cancer diagnoses annually, placing them in the same risk category as alcohol consumption and excess body weight.

Adults, who receive 96.7 percent of all CT scans, are projected to develop about 93,000 (91 percent) of the future cancer cases. Children, due to their developing tissues being more sensitive to radiation damage, face higher risks per scan. The study found that the projected cancer risks were highest among children who underwent CT scans before their first birthday and decreased with age.

The study identified several common types of cancer that could result from CT scans, including lung cancer (22,400 cases), colon cancer (8,700 cases), leukemia (7,900 cases) and bladder cancer (7,100 cases). For women, breast cancer ranked second highest with 5,700 projected cases.

Abdominal and pelvic scans, which expose several radiation-sensitive organs to substantial doses, accounted for nearly 40 percent of all projected cancers, despite representing only 32 percent of CT exams. Chest scans came in second, contributing about 21 percent of the projected cancer cases.

Multiphase scanning: A double-edged sword

A practice called “multiphase scanning,” where multiple images are taken during a single CT appointment, substantially increases radiation exposure. According to the study, this occurs in 28.5 percent of examinations and often could be replaced with single-phase scanning, which would lower doses without impacting diagnostic accuracy. The researchers emphasize the need for optimizing how CT scans are used to minimize unnecessary radiation exposure while preserving their diagnostic benefits.

The dramatic rise in CT scan usage over the past decade has contributed to the increased cancer risk. Since 2007, the number of annual CT exams has surged by 30 percent. Previous studies, such as a 2009 analysis, predicted about 29,000 future cancers from CT exposures in 2007. The current study’s projected cancer figures far exceed these earlier estimates, partly due to better data on scan types and radiation doses, as well as the inclusion of multiphase scanning in the calculations.

In response to these findings, medical groups have already launched initiatives to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. The Image Gently campaign focuses on pediatric imaging, while the Choosing Wisely recommendations identify overused tests. The study authors are not suggesting the elimination of CT scans, which are crucial diagnostic tools, but rather emphasize the need for justified use and optimized dose.

The findings from the UCSF study serve as a critical wake-up call for both patients and medical professionals. While CT scans are indispensable diagnostic tools, their overuse and the associated radiation exposure pose significant long-term health risks.

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Sources include:

StudyFinds.org

JAMANetwork.com

Futurism.com

UCSF.edu

Brighteon.com