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Risks of Radiation in Medical Imaging
Radiation risk during infancy and early childhood
The risks from radiation are higher in infants and young children because children live longer, giving cancers more time to develop. Also in children, cells are dividing more rapidly, and rapidly dividing cells are more susceptible to damage by radiation. The risk of cancer resulting from radiation is difficult to determine. Some experts estimate that about 18 of every 10,000 1-year-olds who have a CT scan of the abdomen eventually develop cancer caused by the radiation. This scan uses one of the highest doses of radiation in medical imaging. When children require diagnostic tests, parents should talk to the doctor about the risks and about possible use of tests that do not require radiation. If tests that use radiation are necessary, parents can help minimize the risks by asking about the following: Using the lowest possible dose to make the diagnosis (for example, sometimes low-resolution scans, which use less radiation, can be used) Limiting exposure to the smallest possible area of the body Limiting the number of scans done 