Brain cancer after radiation exposure from CT examinations of children and young adults

The European EPI-CT study aims to quantify cancer risks from CT examinations of children and young adults (before age 22 years) in nine countries. Study results concerning risk of brain cancer have now been published. Among 658,752 participants undergoing at least one CT examination 165 brain cancers were diagnosed during a median follow-up of 5.6 years. There was a significant linear dose-response relationship between CT-related radiation exposure and brain cancer. The authors conclude that this observation emphasises careful justification of pediatric CTs and use of doses as low as reasonably possible.