JAMA Intern Med

CT imaging could be responsible for 5% of cancers diagnosed each year

April 16, 2025

Study details: This study utilized a multicenter sample of CT examinations from the University of California San Francisco International CT Dose Registry, collected between 2018 and 2020, to project the number of future lifetime cancers in the U.S. population associated with CT imaging in 2023.

Results: An estimated 61.5 million patients underwent 93 million CT examinations in 2023. Approximately 103,000 radiation-induced cancers (90% uncertainty limits, 96,400-109,500) were projected to result from these exams, with higher risks in children and adolescents. The most common cancers projected were lung cancer (22,400 cases), colon cancer (8,700 cases), leukemia (7,900 cases), and bladder cancer (7,100 cases). Abdomen and pelvis CT in adults were the largest contributors, accounting for 37% of the projected cancers, while head CT exams accounted for the largest number of cancers (53%) in children (5,100 cases).

Clinical impact: The findings underscore the need for judicious use of CT imaging, emphasizing the importance of minimizing unnecessary scans and optimizing radiation doses to reduce cancer risk.

Source:

Smith-Bindman R, et al. (2025, April 14). JAMA Intern Med. Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40227719/