New study suggests possible link between CT scan usage and increase risk of brain tumours

CT scans emit higher radiation than alternative tests, however they are frequently used to improve diagnosis and clinical outcomes. Researchers in Holland have reviewed all cancer records of 168,394 Dutch children who received one or more CT scans between 1979 and 2012 in order to ascertain the risk of developing leukemia and brain tumours as a result of being exposed to CT scans as a child. The results stated: “Overall cancer incidence was 1.5 times higher than expected. For all brain tumors combined, and for malignant and nonmalignant brain tumors separately, dose-response relationships were observed with radiation dose to the brain. Relative risks increased to between two and four for the highest dose category. No association for leukemia was observed. Radiation doses to the bone marrow, where leukemia originates, were low.”
Michael Hauptmann, the study’s principal investigator, said: “Epidemiological studies of cancer risks from low doses of medical radiation are challenging. Nevertheless, our careful evaluation of the data and evidence from other studies indicate that CT-related radiation exposure increases brain tumour risk. Careful justification of paediatric CT scans and dose optimization, as done in many hospitals, are essential to minimize risks.”