12/08/2025
A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that CT scans performed in the U.S. in 2023 could be a major contributor to future cancer diagnoses, potentially accounting for up to 5% of all new cancer cases in the country.
The study, which used a modeling approach, projects that the 93 million CT scans performed on 62 million people in 2023 could lead to nearly 103,000 future cancers.
The research emphasizes that the risk is low for any single individual, and the benefits of a clinically justified CT scan often outweigh the risks.
However, the sheer volume of scans performed nationally raises a public health concern, especially as the number of CT scans has risen by 30% since 2007.
The study's authors recommend reducing unnecessary scans and optimizing radiation doses to mitigate this risk.