UCSF Study Links CT Scans to 103,000 Future Cancer Cases in 2023

Researchers estimate CT-related radiation could account for 5% of all new cancer cases annually, urging more judicious use and standardized dosing.

The UCSF-led study projects that the 93 million CT scans performed in the U.S. in 2023 may result in approximately 103,000 future cancer cases, significantly higher than previous estimates.
CT scans expose patients to ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen, with risks accumulating from repeated or unnecessary scans.
Cancer risks from CT scans are now considered comparable to major public health risk factors like alcohol consumption and obesity.
Pediatric patients, especially infants under one year old, face the highest susceptibility, with a tenfold increased risk of radiation-induced cancer compared to adults.
The study highlights variability in radiation doses across hospitals, with about a third exceeding recommended thresholds, prompting calls for dose standardization and minimized unnecessary scans.