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More Parent information, including downloadable brochures on medical radiation and a medical imaging record card available here.
Is there an increased risk of cancer from medical radiation, especially CT scans?
While no one can point to a single individual and say that their cancer was caused by medical radiation, there is evidence that exposures to radiation levels found during CT scans may slightly increase the risk of future cancer. The risk for developing cancer is debated and variable, and may be zero, but estimates also range from about 1 in 500 to 1 in 10,000 fatal cancers from a single CT scan. This needs to be interpreted against the risk of developing cancer over one’s lifetime. Since the risk of developing fatal cancer in an individual is about 1 in 5 during a lifetime, the extra risk from CT is very small.
Like any medical test, the beneficial information gained from the test should outweigh the risk of having the test performed. CT is a very powerful and valuable imaging technique that can provide important and even life-saving information. Sometimes, however, imaging tests like ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide the same information as CT but not expose your child to any radiation. You should ask your doctor and imaging provider whether these alternatives are appropriate for your child’s situation. If a CT is best test, then make sure that your imaging provider uses appropriate low dose techniques to minimize radiation exposure during the test.
Some facilities that perform CT scans on adults do not use radiation dose reduction techniques when scanning children. You won’t know unless you ask, and it is reasonable and within your rights to do so. Your imaging provider should be able to provide you with information about what they do to reduce radiation doses during CT (such as reducing CT tube output, performing single phase scans, reducing exposure to areas away from the clinical concern, etc.). Other things to ask about include whether the facility has American College of Radiology accreditation, whether the CT technologists are credentialled, and if the person interpreting the studies is a board-certified radiologist or pediatric radiologist.
Any discussion should start with your child’s physician. They will know or can inquire if the imaging center to which they refer utilizes appropriate pediatric CT scanning techniques, and if a non-radiation imaging test might be as useful for your child’s situation. If not, you should ask to speak with the technologist or radiologist at your imaging facility so that your concerns and questions can be answered. Additional information can also be found elsewhere in this website, and at the links provided.
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