“Childhood CT Scans Linked to Leukemia and Brain Tumors”
CAT scans or CT scans (computerized tomography) have increased for children visiting the emergency room (ER). Also, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of ER visits for kids from 1995 to 2008 and six percent of these will be given CT scans. Experts are concerned that some kids may be exposed to adult-sized radiation doses. General hospitals may be less likely than pediatric facilities to use special CT protocols with kids to limit their radiation exposure. Experts agree, “CT scans in kids require special oversight, including adjusting doses to their smaller size, because they are more sensitive to radiation than adults, with longer life spans and more time for radiation-related cancers to develop.” A 2012 report in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that the relative high radiation doses from computed tomography (CT) scans vs conventional radiography might lead to future cancer risks. Their observational retrospective cohort study assessed whether children who underwent CT scans have subsequent higher risks for leukemia and brain tumors.
