Study finds CT scans could be responsible for 103,000 new cancer cases in the US each year

A hot potato: A new study from UC San Francisco is raising alarms about the widespread use of computed tomography (CT) scans in the United States, warning that the technology may be responsible for as much as 5 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health, suggests that the risks associated with CT scans – particularly the exposure to ionizing radiation – are far greater than previously believed. "CT can save lives, but its potential harms are often overlooked," said Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, the study's lead author and a UCSF radiologist. Smith-Bindman, who also serves as a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, said there is an urgent need to reconsider current practices. "Given the large volume of CT use in the United States, many cancers could occur in the future if current practices don't change," she said. "Our estimates put CT on par with other significant risk factors, such ... Read full article.