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Can A CT Scan Test Cause Cancer?

Posted on Tue, 26 Apr 2016

Question: Hi I am 31 year old male, no drinking or smoking habits...had digestive complaints for past 6 months....did endoscopy and it revealed mild antral and corporal gastritis with h.pylori negative. abdominal ultrasound was normal. blood test normal.....then had colonoscopy and that too was normal...then few days back I went with a complaint of significant weight loss...9 kgs with 6 months..doctor then ordered to repeat blood that I hadand also ordered TSH and CEA...they both are normal...then he ordered ct scan which also came back normal...he finally concluded it's anxiety which is causing weight loss...now my fear for cancer was over...but now anxiety started again because someone told ct scan itself will cause cancer...I am worried again and no appetite...I don't know what to do...Pls help..

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You shouldn't worry about radiation related cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to HCM

It is good that all investigations are normal.
Please stop worrying at all.
It is right that CT scan causes radiation exposure but it is far below the maximum allowable safe dose,so don't worry about radiation related cancer.
Now a days,spiral technique is used in CT imaging and it delivers very less radiation to patients.

Weight loss may be due to many causes and all relevant investigations has been done.

You can try relaxation technique and meditation.You may need proper evaluation for anxiety.You may need anti-anxiety medicines also.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (12 minutes later)

thank you doctor!...the title of the scan is MDCT ABDOMEN.....something written like multislice spiral ct...is that what you are telling too? is that scan safe? also I am having loose motion after that XXXXXXX injection...they told it will happen but not how long it will last....kindly let me know...

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Both are same things.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to HCM

Both are same things.
It may take 24-48 hours for contrast clearance.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (24 hours later)

I have read in few places that doing a ct scan is like sitting on a time bomb later. it causes mutations and DNA damage..particularly abdominal ct uses more radiation... do we have any statistics for XXXXXXX on radiation related cancer?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Exact percentage risk is not accurately known but it is very low.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to HCM

It is right that radiation exposure related to abdominal CT is more than other organs like CT brain.
It is still safe.It is far below the maximum allowable safe dose.
It is important to know that there is little risk in CT scan but its diagnostic importance is far greater than exposure risk involved.

Exact percentage risk is not accurately known but it is very low.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad