Their new research, based on projections from hospitals in 20 U.S. states, estimates that 103,000 cancer diagnoses, or 5% of all cancers, could result from 93 million scans performed in the U.S. in 2023 alone.
Nationally, the new cancer projections from CT scans put them on par with other well-known, population-wide risk factors for cancers, like alcohol and obesity, an editor’s note accompanying the study points out.
Echoing a statement from the American College of Radiology after the study’s release, she stressed that the study’s projection of cancer diagnoses from CT scans was based on statistical modeling, not actual patient outcomes.
There are no published studies directly linking CT scans to cancer, the statement says. [emphasis mine]
Without hard data to back it up, this study is fairly meaningless.
Time for some pretty easy math; if 93,000,000 scans cause 103,000 cancer diagnoses, what percentage of scans cause cancer?
Its 0.11%. Each scan has a 0.11% chance of causing cancer. Thats slighty more than a 1 in 1000 chance for each scan.
Now, 93000000 and 103000 look like large scary numbers but when you’re comparing populations every number is likely to be large and scary. The absolute magnitude is meaningless; the important information lies in their proportion.
Echoing a statement from the American College of Radiology after the study’s release, she stressed that the study’s projection of cancer diagnoses from CT scans was based on statistical modeling, not actual patient outcomes.
There are no published studies directly linking CT scans to cancer, the statement says. “Americans should not forgo necessary, life-saving medical imaging and continue to discuss the benefits and risks of these exams with their healthcare providers,” it continues.
You can tell whatever story you want from statistics, it could be that people that get CT scans have a higher chance of getting a cancer diagnosis because they are getting medical care and others just go undiagnosed.
The point isn’t that CT scans cause cancer, that was always a risk with any ionizing radiation. The point is that radiation exposure from CT scans varies wildly based on the operator and you should do what you can to reduce your exposure, but don’t skip a CT because of a scary headline.
Each CT scan is more harmful than previously understood.
edit: go ahead and downvote
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/16/g-s1-60488/ct-scan-cancer-risk-ionizing-radiation
Without hard data to back it up, this study is fairly meaningless.
Time for some pretty easy math; if 93,000,000 scans cause 103,000 cancer diagnoses, what percentage of scans cause cancer?
Its 0.11%. Each scan has a 0.11% chance of causing cancer. Thats slighty more than a 1 in 1000 chance for each scan.
Now, 93000000 and 103000 look like large scary numbers but when you’re comparing populations every number is likely to be large and scary. The absolute magnitude is meaningless; the important information lies in their proportion.
You skipped this part:
You can tell whatever story you want from statistics, it could be that people that get CT scans have a higher chance of getting a cancer diagnosis because they are getting medical care and others just go undiagnosed.
The point isn’t that CT scans cause cancer, that was always a risk with any ionizing radiation. The point is that radiation exposure from CT scans varies wildly based on the operator and you should do what you can to reduce your exposure, but don’t skip a CT because of a scary headline.
what a dumb comment