CT scans and Cancer Risk

Statisticians have calculated that one year’s total number of CT scans performed on children create an extra 4,879 future cancers. This number could be reduced by 43% if the amount of radiation could be reduced from high doses to the average dose for these tests. Always ask, “How will a scan change my child’s medical care?” If the CT scan is clearly warranted, ask, “What are you doing to make sure that the dose of radiation is as low as possible?” CT scans produce 200 times as much radiation as chest X-rays. See Diana Miglioretti at the University of California, professor of biostatistics. Celebration of Health Association website