CT Scans may Increase Hematological Cancer Risk among children and adults

A recent multinational study named EPI-CT found a concerning association between pediatric computed tomography (CT) scans and an elevated risk of hematological malignancies. The findings were published in Nature Medicine.

Over a million European children undergo CT scans annually, making this research crucial in understanding the potential health impacts of this common diagnostic procedure. The study spanned over nine European countries, followed a cohort of 948,174 individuals who had CT examinations before the age of 22. The focus was on estimating radiation doses to the active bone marrow, considering factors such as the body part scanned, patient characteristics, time period, and inferred CT technical parameters.

Results from the comprehensive study revealed a significant correlation between cumulative radiation dose and the risk of developing hematological malignancies. The excess relative risk was reported as 1.96 (with a 95% confidence interval of 1.10 to 3.12) per 100 mGy, involving 790 documented cases. Both lymphoid and myeloid malignancies showed similar risk estimates.

The findings suggest that for every 10,000 children undergoing CT scans today (with a mean dose of 8 mGy), 1–2 individuals are anticipated to develop a hematological malignancy due to radiation exposure within the subsequent 12 years.

The findings add to the growing body of evidence pointing toward an increased cancer risk even at low radiation doses. The study underscores the critical need for ongoing scrutiny and justification of pediatric CT examinations, emphasizing the urgency for optimizing radiation doses to minimize potential health risks.

Experts stress the importance of balancing the diagnostic benefits of CT scans with potential health implications, especially for pediatric populations. This study serves as a clarion call for healthcare practitioners and policymakers to reevaluate and refine existing protocols, ensuring that medical imaging procedures, particularly in children, are conducted with the utmost caution and adherence to safety standards.

Reference: 

Bosch de Basea Gomez, M., Thierry-Chef, I., Harbron, R., Hauptmann, M., Byrnes, G., Bernier, M.-O., Le Cornet, L., Dabin, J., Ferro, G., Istad, T. S., Jahnen, A., Lee, C., Maccia, C., Malchair, F., Olerud, H., Simon, S. L., Figuerola, J., Peiro, A., Engels, H., … Cardis, E. (2023). Risk of hematological malignancies from CT radiation exposure in children, adolescents and young adults. In Nature Medicine. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02620-0