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FDA-Issued Warnings on CT Scans

Invented in 1972 by Godfrey N. Hounsfield and lan Cormack, CT (computerized tomography) scans are a crucial element to the field of diagnostic medicine. They allow doctors to take pictures of the inside of the body and even see soft tissues that x-rays cannot see. However, CT scans also emit radiation, and some people have expressed concerns about their long-term effects on an individual's health. As a result, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of the United States has issued some warnings in regards to their safety.

  1. General Warnings

    • The FDA's official website warns that prolonged exposure to the x-rays in CT scans can possibly lead to cancer. Technicians must be especially cognizant of the amount of radiation used with children because their smaller size may lead to more complications if they receive too large a dose. In addition, some of the dyes used to allow the photographing of internal organs may lead to allergic reactions. Patients should tell their physician of all known allergies in order to avoid possible complications.

    October 2009 Warning

    • In October 2009, the FDA issued a warning about the use of CT scans in four different hospitals (three in California and one in Alabama). Over an 18-month period, over 300 patients were exposed to radiation at higher than recommended dosage levels. However, despite these reports, the FDA issued a statement on December 8, 2009 saying that the risks of overexposure of radiation from CT scans does not outweigh the benefits of a CT scans, and that patients should follow their doctor's recommendation to get a CT scan.

    New Regulations

    • As a result of the cases of overexposure at the end of 2009, the FDA issued new regulations with regards to CT scans. These rules apply to technicians examining patients. They include: checking the display panel each time a new patient comes in to be examined, adjusting the amount of radiation given if a patient comes in for more than one scan, a new alert to be placed on the display panel to inform the technician if the amount of radiation being administered exceeds the amount given to an average patient, and for records to be kept of the radiation doses given to patients.

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