Could CT scans pose an increased cancer risk?

During last week’s show, we heard from a caller who has received annual CT scans since having kidney stones five years ago. While talking to the caller, Dr. Bruce Feinberg warned there might be an associated risk of cancer with repeated CT scans.

This concern is echoed in a recent Health Day article, which summarizes a Canadian study published in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences.

“Patients who undergo CT scans are exposed to harmful ionizing radiation, which could affect their lifetime risk for developing cancer,” researchers said. “The average radiation dose from an abdominal-pelvic CT scan is roughly the equivalent of 100 to 250 chest X-rays.”

The full article can be found here: https://consumer.healthday.com/health-technology-information-18/cat-scan-news-88/knowledge-about-cancer-risks-associated-with-ct-scans-varies-among-doctors-712293.html