Dangers of CT Scans

CT scans, often referred to as CAT scans, are noninvasive tests that use special X-ray equipment to help doctors diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions. While CT scans can provide a valuable tool to help doctors locate abnormalities in the brain and throughout the body, investigators have raised concern over the level of radiation used and potential damage to the body as a result of over-exposure.

Complications to Pregnancy

Women who are or who may become pregnant should not receive a CT scan unless medically necessary due to the risk of damage to an unborn child. According to information published on Radiology Info, an online information resource for radiology patients, the radiation used during a CT scan can be absorbed into the body, potentially leading to a variety of damages to a pregnant woman's fetus, including congenital malformations, growth retardation and, in severe cases, loss of pregnancy.

Contaminated Breast Milk

Doctors recommend that women who are breastfeeding at the time that a CT scan is ordered should discontinue breastfeeding for at least 24 hours after a CT scan. Delaying breastfeeding for at least 24 hours reduces the risk of radiation that has been absorbed into the body during the CT scan from being transferred to the infant during breastfeeding. Radiation could cause vomiting and other side-effects.

Allergic Reactions

Another risk of CT scans has less to do with radiation and more to do with contrast materials found in the iodine. It's rare, but some patients develop allergic reactions to the iodine used with CT scans and suffer side-effects such as itching, hives, nausea and difficulty in breathing. Doctors typically treat these reactions with antihistamines to counteract the allergic reaction.

Cancer

One of the most serious risks in regard to CT scans is the potential development of cancer as a result of exposure to the radiation used in the testing process. According to CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, radiation absorbed into the body during a CT scan can trigger the abnormal growth of cells and development of cancers of the skin, lungs, stomach brain and breasts. According to the article, CT scans should only be ordered if absolutely necessary and, when performed, at the lowest levels of radiation possible to lower the risks of overexposure.