Can Excessive And Unnecessary CT Scans Cause Cancer?

Posted on Mon, 6 Apr 2015

Question: why can so many catscans develop had cancer? And is it true?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Excessive and unnecessary CT scan can cause cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Excessive and unnecessary CT scan can cause cancer.CT scan uses ionizing radiation and these radiation can cause cancer in long term.There rays damage DNA and may lead to cancer by mutation.
Risk is more in children due to more sensitiveness to radiation.Women are also considered as more prone to develop cancer as compared to males of same age group.

X-rays from X-ray machine also delivers same ionizing radiation to patients but radiation dose is much less as compared to CT scan.

Now a days,latest spiral machine delivers less radiation to patient and various other measures can be taken to minimize radiation side effects like use of lead apron during CT scan.

Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar