Doctors Often Order Unnecessary CT Scans: Consumer Reports

A new study suggests that many doctors order CT scans that are unnecessary, exposing patients to high levels of potentially cancer-causing radiation.

According to research published by Consumer Reports, computerized tomography (CT) scans are recommended by many doctors, even though they may not help diagnose the underlying problem or they order “double scans,” which subject patients to the radiation twice.

CT scans provide useful images of bones, muscles and blood vessels. However, CT scans also expose patients to 100 to 500 times more radiation than other types of x-ray imaging.

The report found that CT scans are often overused and conducted at higher doses than are necessary. The use of CT scans have tripled since 1993, with approximately 85 million conducted every year.

The new report was based on hospitals which reported the number of double chest and abdominal scans reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

More than 20% of hospitals earned the lowest rating for performing double CT scans. These facilities performed double scans on more than 20% of patients needing abdominal CT scans.

Seven percent of hospitals earned the lowest Consumer Reports rating for having the highest rates of performing double CT scans. However, nearly 30% of hospitals had conducted double scans on five percent or less of their patients.

A double CT scan is when one CT scan is conducted, then a second scan is performed using contrast dye. This may allow certain areas to become more visible. Doctors often perform double scans in an attempt to cover all possible scenarios to determine the correct diagnosis.

According to Consumer Reports, double scans are typically unnecessary and are only needed in less than one percent of patients. Double scans of the abdomen are needed more frequently to define abnormalities in the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

This double exposure to the radiation from CT scans exposes patients to unnecessary cancer-causing radiation, Consumer Reports warns.

CT Scan Safety Concerns

CT scan overuse has come to the forefront of medical controversy over the last decade as other research has emerged revealing doctors often use doses much higher than necessary.

A study published in New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 questioned the safety of CT scans, pointing out there is no professional or governmental organization that monitors CT scan dose information. Additionally, researchers found that most doctors know very little about the doses of radiation or cancer risks from the imaging.

Another study found typical doses of radiation used for routine abdomen and pelvic CT scans were 66% higher than necessary. CT scan machines are set at a standard radiation dose level, that level must be adjusted depending on the size of the patient.

Another study published just last year found the use of CT scans doubled for children under five and tripled for children between the ages of 5 and 14 between 1996 and 2005. Children are also receiving too many scans overall, exposing them to high levels of radiation and increasing their risk of cancer.

Experts say that children are especially at risk of unnecessary radiation, considering they are much smaller, more sensitive to radiation and may often be exposed to adult sized radiation doses.

If a doctor orders a CT scan, experts recommend asking why it may be needed and if the results will affect the course of treatment the doctor will recommend. If not, the scan may be avoided for other tests which may expose patients to less radiation. Experts also recommend questioning a doctor if they plan to use a double scan and declining if it isn’t necessary.