CT scans on children can increase cancer risk

BBC : In an article published today in the medical journal the Lancet, researchers in the UK warn of the increased risk of leukemia and brain cancer in children who receive multiple computed tomography scans. CT scans, which entail creating a three-dimensional x-ray image from multiple two-dimensional images, are commonly used following serious accidents to check for internal injuries. However, the benefits still outweigh the risks from the relatively large radiation doses needed to complete a scan, according to Mark Pearce, an epidemiologist from Newcastle University who led the study. The researchers recommend that for children and young adults, alternative procedures should be considered, but if a CT scan is determined to be necessary, the radiation dose should be kept as low as possible.