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What Are The Chances Of Getting Cancer Through Multiple CT Scans?
Question: 10-12 total head CTs, 1 CTA head. I have had 7 of these CTs in the past ten years.
8 chest CTs
1 neck CT
3 abdomen CTs
1 kidney CT
Is this considered excessive? What are my cancer risks? What types of cancers am I at risk for developing? What are my brain cancer risks?
8 chest CTs
1 neck CT
3 abdomen CTs
1 kidney CT
Is this considered excessive? What are my cancer risks? What types of cancers am I at risk for developing? What are my brain cancer risks?
Brief Answer:
There is slightly increased risk of cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted that you have had multiple CT scans.
CT scan exposes the body to radiation, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.
Typically, each CT scan increases the risk of cancer by 0.05 percent. Therefore, the total increased risk in your case is about 0.6 percent.
The normal population has a 20% risk of getting cancer. So, in your case the risk of cancer in the lifetime is 20.6%.
These cancers can include cancers in brain, lung, gut, etc and the risk of specific cancers is not known.
I hope my reply has helped you.
I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog:XXXXXX
There is slightly increased risk of cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted that you have had multiple CT scans.
CT scan exposes the body to radiation, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.
Typically, each CT scan increases the risk of cancer by 0.05 percent. Therefore, the total increased risk in your case is about 0.6 percent.
The normal population has a 20% risk of getting cancer. So, in your case the risk of cancer in the lifetime is 20.6%.
These cancers can include cancers in brain, lung, gut, etc and the risk of specific cancers is not known.
I hope my reply has helped you.
I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog:XXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I read this article and it has upset me. I have had over three head CTs. And they were due to me faitning and falling etc. This article makes it sound like there is no hope for me http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
Brief Answer:
This article is not confirmatory.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I have read the article mentioned by you. This article does state that there may be a higher risk of glioma (a type of brain cancer) in people exposed to 3+ CTs, however it was found in only those with a positive family history of cancer. In those without a family history of cancer, there was no increased risk of cancer.
Even in the high risk group with a positive family history of cancer, cancer occurred in only about 10%, and 90% people did not develop glioma.
So, I hope it clarifies and gives you hope.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
This article is not confirmatory.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I have read the article mentioned by you. This article does state that there may be a higher risk of glioma (a type of brain cancer) in people exposed to 3+ CTs, however it was found in only those with a positive family history of cancer. In those without a family history of cancer, there was no increased risk of cancer.
Even in the high risk group with a positive family history of cancer, cancer occurred in only about 10%, and 90% people did not develop glioma.
So, I hope it clarifies and gives you hope.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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