It is popular to worry about the harms of CT scans in small children. A retrospective Swedish study suggests decreased intelligence. And, our models based on nuclear weapon exposure data combined with dummy CT exposure suggest these scans are likely to result in an increased risk of malignancy.
This is another retrospective study in the National Health Service of Britain comparing malignancy outcomes with their exposure to CT in childhood. The scary headline: CT scan radiation triples the risk of leukemia and primary brain malignancy. Of course, triple the risk is essentially 1 additional case of leukemia and 1 additional case of primary brain malignancy in the first 10 years after exposure. So, this is potentially another study you can use to discuss the Number Needed to Harm with families when discussing the need for CT radiation in pediatric cases.
Now, whether articles like this trigger a wave of legal trolling for malignancies preceded by CT remains to be seen….
“Radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood and subsequent risk of leukaemia and brain tumours: a retrospective cohort study”
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60815-0/abstract