They can be life-saving but radiation from the scans also contributes to cancer risk. The authors of a new study estimate overuse of CT scans is increasing the U.S. cancer burden.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman about her research indicating CT scans, which emit radiation, will cause some 100,000 cases of cancer annually.

A pretrained artificial intelligence model demonstrates a high sensitivity in detecting pancreatic cancer on CT scans, a new ...

Based on the number and types of scans people underwent in 2023, the researchers estimated that around 103,000 U.S. cancer diagnoses per year could soon be attributed to CT scan radiation exposure.

CT scans use ionizing radiation, which can increase the risk of cancer. However, cancer risk from radiation exposure during a CT scan is quite low compared to the natural lifetime risk of cancer.

Overall, your odds are very low -- the chance of getting a fatal cancer from any one CT scan is about 1 in 2,000. Some organs are more sensitive to radiation than others.

New research reveals CT scans may cause 5% of U.S. cancer cases annually. Learn the risks, who's most vulnerable, and how to protect yourself.

CT scans are a key piece of the pancreatic cancer diagnostic process. They can create clear images of the pancreas, helping doctors determine the size and location of tumors. Learn more.

MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans can all be useful for detecting and staging stomach cancer. Takeaway Stomach cancer is often identified in later stages because it rarely causes early symptoms.

Although CT scans can and sometimes do cause cancer in patients, the reality is that you probably aren’t in much danger when you go in for a recommended scan. Advertisement.