Radiation in CT Scans May Cause Harm to Children

[Guest guest]

This was one of the procedures my son had to undergo as part of the

initial diagnosing. Fortunately, it was only used that one time. X-rays,

on the other hand, he's had plenty of

~Georgina

Radiation in CT Scans May Cause Harm to Children

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Jan. 23 (CBS) Several new studies suggest that kids who get computerized

tomography (CT) scans--an imaging technique--are getting a higher dose

of radiation than necessary and that this could lead to cancer later in

life. Our health correspondent Dr. Senay is here to help us

understand this latest news.

Three new studies in the American Journal of Roentgenology question the

amount of radiation necessary in CT scans for effective diagnosis in

children. Researchers point out that most CT scanners are calibrated for

adults and that children are getting a much larger radiation dose than

they need, which could potentially cause cancer over time.

One study estimated that children get up to six times the amount of

radiation they actually need. And another estimated that out of 600,000

kids who get CT scans every year of the head and abdomen, as many as 500

could die of cancer later in life because of the excess radiation.

To put that in perspective, that is a very small statistical risk, and

there is no definitive proof linking CT scan radiation to cancer. Not

everyone agrees about the risks or the statistical methods used to

calculate those risks, but clearly there is good reason to reevaluate

the amount of radiation given to children.

Children should not avoid CT scans. A CT scan is a wonderful tool that

allows doctors to spot problems and confirm suspicions and proceed

toward the treatment and cure of potentially fatal conditions.

A CT scan generates radiation in the form of X-rays to diagnose serious

conditions ranging from cancer to kidney stones to appendicitis. The

technology provides doctors with an excellent way to see inside the body

and for many conditions it's an indispensable tool for an accurate

diagnosis.

Your doctor will help you weigh the risks versus the benefit of a CT

scan for your child. It's a legitimate concern and a legitimate question

to ask your doctor.

The American College of Radiology has been working out guidelines for CT

scans that include the appropriate dosage for children. The trick is to

determine how much radiation is needed for an accurate diagnosis. One of

the new studies estimates that cutting the dose by half would still give

a clear picture and cut the risks in half.