Here’s some rather alarming research: A study had found evidence that CT scans in kids increases the risk for brain cancer and leukemia.
The results of the study, which was published online in the British journal Lancet, last week were widely reported in the media, including The New York Times.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/ct-scans-increase-childrens-cancer-risk-study-finds/
The latest study looked at the records of roughly 180,000 youngsters who had CT, or computed tomography, scans from 1985 to 2002 in England, according to The Times. Of that group, there were 135 cases of brain cancer and 74 cases of leukemia.
Researchers calculated the radiation doses that members of the test group had received, and determined that the more CTs children had and the more radiation, the higher their risk became for brain cancer and leukemia, The Times reported.
CT scans release more radiation than traditional X-rays, which is why the medical field has been concerned about their impact on children, The Times said.
The British study found that children younger than 15 who had received two or three CT scans tripled their risk of getting brain cancer, according to The Times.
The take-away from the study is that CT tests should only be done on kids when absolutely necessary, using the lowest possible amount of radiation.
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This particular study on CT scans being associated with brain cancer & leukemia…Just another thing to keep in mind given that my son had undegone 2 seperate CT scan on his head after his moderate to severe TBI (the second one was only because of there being another major mess up by the doctors who’d seen him (and had done little to nothing to help him while ICP was building) at the first hosp.