CT scan radiation can cause cancer in patients

Posted by Bruce Westbrook

December 17, 2009

Health care is supposed to help your health, not hurt it. But recent studies show that CT scans (computed tomography) may inflict much more radiation than previously believed and can cause cancer. In fact, up to 29,000 new cancers may erupt in America each year due to CT scan radiation, says the Archives of Internal Medicine.

One study in that journal indicates persons in CT scans may be subjected to as much as four times the amount of radiation than previously estimated. Former studies had depended on inanimate dummies to be subjected to scans, but this study examined 1,119 patients at several San Francisco hospitals.

The findings? A patient could be subjected to as much radiation from a single CT scan as from 442 chest X-rays or 74 mammograms.

While CT scans can be helpful in diagnosing a person’s ailment, it’s estimated that up to a third of such scans are needless. That means many people could be subjected needlessly to potentially cancer-causing radiation.

Some say that such radiation isn’t that severe. Others claim that persons developing cancer after a CT scan may have had a pre-existing condition which led to that cancer. Also, cancer caused by CT scan radiation may not begin until 20 years after such exposure, making it difficult to trace. And besides, many people need CT scans.

But not everyone. You always have the option of exploring alternative exams with your physician. Given the thrust of the new studies, you may not want to risk a CT scan if alternatives are available. And if the recent findings are accurate, do you want to take the chance that CT scan radiation won’t harm you?

If you or a loved one has suffered cancer after getting a CT scan, alert a personal injury lawyer or attorney with Jim S. Adler & Associates. The longtime Texas personal injury law firm is committed to helping persons who are injured by defective drugs, defective medical devices or other catastrophic accidents.

We urge all patients to maintain accurate records of their medical procedures in case a costly after-effect emerges. Then an Adler defective medical device lawyer or personal injury attorney can fight for your financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Just fill out the free case evaluation form on this Web page, or call toll-free to 1-800-505-1414, and a legal representative will respond to you promptly.

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