Study shows that exam can cause 5% of cancer cases recorded per year in the US. Investigators warn of excessive and unnecessary use of computed tomography.
Earlier this week, US researchers warned of the risks of computed tomography (CT, better known as TACs) – A standard procedure used to obtain detailed images of the body’s internal structures for the diagnosis of diseases.
According to the recent study, if the excessive use of this exam is not reduced, the tomography may be responsible for 5% of cases of cancer diagnosed in a year.
“CT can save lives, but its potential risks are often ignored,” he says Rebecca Smith-BindmanRadiologist at the University of California in San Francisco, which coordinated the investigation.
TC combines a series of radiographs to create a three -dimensional image of the patient. The tomography device resembles a large ring, in which the patient lying down is positioned. This is then moved into the ring, which performs hundreds of x-rays of the body analyzed.
Computerized tomography is different from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although the tubular equipment used on the exam is similar. Unlike CT, RM devices use powerful iam to send radio waves through the body, creating detailed images. Both examinations allow you to get high resolution images, but X-ray exposure on CT leads to risks.
One in 20 cases
To launch the alert, researchers modeled the likelihood of cancer development in 61.5 million patients who performed a computed tomography in the United States. The study was based on current CT exam numbers and cancer incidence rates.
The study, this Monday in the Jama Internal Medicine, estimated that exposure to radiation from CT could cause, in the future, 103 thousand cases of cancer between the analyzed group. This is equivalent to 5% of the total new cancer diagnoses per year in the United States.
CT has been increasingly used for diagnostic purposes. Since 2007, there has been a 30% increase in this type of examination in the US. It is most often performed in patients aged 60 to 69 years.
Some tacs are more conducive to cancer than others
The study also revealed that the tomography abdominal e pelvic showed more likely to cause cancer in adults, while in children the risks were higher in exams at skull.
Still according to the investigation, children who performed a TC before completing one year of age had a ten times higher risk of developing cancer compared to any other age group.
“Our study puts TC at the same level as other risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and overweight ”stressed Smith-Bindman. “Reducing the number of tomography can save lives.”
“A fact” that already knew each other, but…
It should be noted what study was based on patients from the US health system. Researchers identified excessive and unnecessary use of CT exams, namely in the diagnosis of respiratory infections and headaches. Smith-Bindman also pointed out that in some cases the radiation doses used during the exam were also excessive.
Other health professionals agree that misuse of TCs may pose a risk to patients. “It is a well -established fact that radiation causes cancer”said Pradip Deb, radiological security specialist at Rmit University, Australia, who did not participate in the study.
Deb pointed out that although it is known that ionizing radiation can damage DNA, its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. “Not all people exposed to radiation will develop cancer,” he added.
Despite the risks associated with x-rays, these are an essential tool in medicine and can provide vital information about a patient’s clinical status. “This study clearly demonstrated the importance of limiting the dose of radiation whenever possible and to avoid unnecessary TCs,” said Deb.
Why are the X-rays harmful?
The electromagnetic spectrum is divided by different radiation frequencies, depending on wavelength. In the center is the visible spectrum, which includes the wavelengths corresponding to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
There are also low frequency lanes, such as radio, microwave and infrared waves, and high frequency ranges, such as ultraviolet radiation (UV), X-rays and gamma rays. This high frequency radiation, known as ionizing radiation, poses a health risk.
Ionizing radiation has the ability to remove electrons from an atom. This means that it has enough energy to damage molecules. In humans, these damage can lead to a number of problems, including cancer.
