Medical scanners, while vital for diagnosis, may increase cancer risk due to cumulative radiation exposure, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study.
Rise in medical scans raises cancer concerns
The increasing use of medical scanners has raised concerns about their potential long-term health impacts. Experts emphasize the need to optimize radiation doses and ensure scans are only prescribed when necessary to reduce risks.Scans are common but may carry hidden risks
Medical scans have become faster, more precise, and more frequent, playing a crucial role in many hospitals. However, new data suggest a possible link between these scans and an increased cancer risk due to exposure to ionizing radiation.High volume of scans in the U.S.
In 2023, 93 million scans were performed in the United States, affecting over 62 million people. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine warns that the cumulative radiation from these scans could lead to approximately 103,000 additional cancers over the lifetime of exposed patients.Scan-related cancer risk compared to other factors
The study estimates that scan-related cancers could account for 5% of all new cancer diagnoses annually if current practices continue. This compares to 5.4% of cancer cases linked to alcohol and 7.6% linked to obesity, placing scans among major cancer risk factors.Children and certain body areas face higher risks
Children are more sensitive to ionizing radiation, facing a higher cancer risk per scan, especially before age one. Adults who undergo frequent scans also face increased risk, particularly for scans of the abdomen, thorax, and pelvis, which deliver the highest radiation doses. The study estimates these scans alone could cause over 37,000 cancer cases.
