New Study Reveals CT Scan Radiation Linked To Increased Thyroid Cancer Risk

A recent study has revealed that exposure to radiation from CT scans was linked to an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. In addition to cancer, it was also linked to a higher risk of developing leukemia.

The dataset from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan showed that there’s a link between cancer and CT scan radiation. The study was performed between 2000 and 2013. It looked into thousands of cases of the diseases. They looked at 22,853 thyroid cancer, 20,157 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 13,040 leukemia.

Out of the cases, they excluded those who were 25 years old when they were diagnosed with cancer and also those who had less than 3 years of follow-up before the diagnosis. Cases that already had cancer before the year 2000 were likewise excluded.

Studying the cases, they found out that the ones who developed thyroid cancer and leukemia had higher probabilities of having undergone CT scans. There were also other results associated with cancer and CT scans.

When the age groups were combined, they found out that exposure to CT scans did not increase the risk for the group of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. However, those between 36 and 45 years old showed an increase, three times more in the non-Hodgkin lymphoma group. However, older patients showed no visible link.

As per the conclusion of researchers, CT scans had an effect on the risk of developing leukemia and thyroid cancer. The age group that was more prone to it was the one younger than 45. Between male and female, the latter was said to be at a higher risk.

According to one of the authors, Yu-Hsuan Joni Shao, “Our study found that CT scans are associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer and leukemia in adults in all ages and with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in young adults.”

He explained that those who receive several CT scans are at a higher risk. In fact, he said that the increasing number of people undergoing CT scans had raised some public health concerns.

As per the Cancer Research UK, CT scans are considered safe for most people; however, just like all medical tests, there are possible risks associated with it. It also advised that a patient’s doctor and radiographer should make sure that the patient will receive more benefits as compared to the risks involved.