CT scans save lives, but their use may carry long-term cancer risks

More Americans are obtaining computed tomography (CT) scan than ever before, and while this tech can save lives, some scientists are worried about the potential for low doses of ionizing radiation to raise cancer risks.

Individual Risk Is Low, But Population-Level Impact Could Be Significant

For individuals, the risk of developing cancer from a single CT scan is considered extremely minimal, if it exists at all. Medical professionals emphasize that patients should not avoid CT scans when they are deemed medically necessary, as these imaging tools are often lifesaving in diagnosing and treating serious conditions.

CT Scan Use Continues to Surge

However, the frequency of CT scans in the United States has surged by more than 30% since 2007, raising concerns among researchers about the potential long-term health impacts of cumulative radiation exposure across the population.

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Study Estimates CT-Linked Cancer Cases Could Reach 103,000

A new analysis by a joint U.S. and U.K. research team predicts that low levels of ionizing radiation from CT scans may be responsible for up to 5% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. Based on data from 2023, that could equate to an estimated 103,000 future cancer cases.

These projections rely on assumptions derived from historical exposure data, such as nuclear incidents, and while not definitive, they suggest that CT scans may pose a similar cancer risk at the population level as alcohol consumption.

“CT is frequently lifesaving, yet its potential harms are often overlooked,” said lead author Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “Even very small cancer risks will lead to a significant number of future cancers given the tremendous volume of CT use in the United States.”

More Research Needed, But Caution Advised

While the link between high-dose radiation and cancer is well-established, evidence connecting low-dose radiation—like that from a single CT scan—to cancer remains inconclusive. Nonetheless, experts urge healthcare providers and patients to weigh the risks and benefits carefully and to limit unnecessary imaging.

The message is not to avoid CT scans altogether, but to ensure that their use is justified and optimized, minimizing exposure without compromising patient care.