Children Getting CT Scans At Higher Risk For Cancer

A new study suggests that there's a slight increase in the risk of brain cancer and leukemia associated with CT scans for children. Experts say, in most cases, the risk doesn't not outweigh the benefit of the CT scan, but call on doctors to be more selective in ordering them. Audie Cornish talks to NPR's Rob Stein about the study.



New research out today indicates that a popular medical test may increase the risk for some forms of cancer. A large, international study found that CAT scans, which are also known as CT scans, can increase the risk for leukemia and brain cancer in children.

NPR's Rob Stein joins us now to talk about the new findings. And Rob, I understand the concerns about these scans have been building for a long time. So what's the specific source of worry here?


CORNISH: So this is the first study, really, directly to look at the safety of CT scans. And tell us exactly how they did this.

STEIN: That's right. Previous studies that have tried to take a look at it have really - based on extrapolations of data collected for other reasons. It really was based mostly on data collected from the survivors of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in World War II. And they would extrapolate from that data, to try to determine what their radiation risk was.

In this study, for the first time, they looked directly at patients who were getting CT scans, and then followed up to see if they developed any kinds of cancers; in this case, the - it was based on 180,000 patients in Britain who got CT scans.





CORNISH: So Rob, in the end, what should we understand about the study?


So their thinking is that the doctors could just pick and choose a little bit more carefully; think, do I really need to do this test? Or is there another test that I could use that has less radiation? And that way, everybody will be safer.

CORNISH: NPR's Rob Stein, thank you.

STEIN: Oh, thank you, Audie.




