[Intl_DxMedPhys] New JAMA IM article on CT radiation dose and future cancers

[Robert Walker]

Thanks for going on the record Mark.

In case you missed it, the lead author is also a cofounder of Alara
Imaging, the steward of the CT radiation dose CMS measure.


On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 8:29 AM Mark Supanich via
Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu> wrote:

> There's a new article in JAMA internal medicine out predicting a large
> number of future cancers from CT scans. https: //jamanetwork.
> com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2832778 The work is entirely
> statistical in nature, there is no
> There's a new article in JAMA internal medicine out predicting a large
> number of future cancers from CT scans.
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2832778__;!!KGKeukY!3Gq6Z4vtKyyP6aSWswzjIFKpuPMKFzUdBiXl-s1ajldJa955OTChAkYKI816II5B3uJftGjklivELww-nh7h07aRKP8j1Lbj6uX87Gvp$ 
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2832778__;!!KGKeukY!3QiV5I4K5v5DkFeVCQcvqSvpeu1GCW4Xu2kfC-OIisjve02FMcil1jtQ4DKwavLox_91CTk9e1T7WF2R_hfH5GcmWjHVWZJE1htAOpCHDAyPO8c$>
>  The work is entirely statistical in nature, there is no cohort study or
> causal link found, just multiplying the presumed very small individual risk
> of each CT scan times the tens of millions scans done each year. Please
> read the article and be prepared to discuss it with colleagues, patients,
> and physicians. A few key points to remember are:
> 1. When ordered for medically indicated reasons the benefits of CT far
> outweigh any future risk
> 2. CT catches cancer earlier, changes and informs diagnosis, and can help
> patients avoid unnecessary surgeries
> 3. Research into radiation risk from low levels of ionizing radiation is
> still a field of research and consensus on what the risk is has not been
> reached
> 4. Many CT scans are performed in the last years of patient's lives and
> those CT scans can't contribute to future cancers (as the latency period
> for most solid cancers is at least 4 years). The authors only excluded
> scans that would have been performed in the last year of life from this
> paper. A more realistic exclusion of 4 or 5 years would significantly
> reduce the number of theoretical cancer inductions they claim.
>
> If you want to point folks to a reasonably balanced write up - I suggest
> this one from Gizmodo (
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gizmodo.com/common-ct-scans-are-major-cancer-risk-study-claims-2000588963__;!!KGKeukY!3Gq6Z4vtKyyP6aSWswzjIFKpuPMKFzUdBiXl-s1ajldJa955OTChAkYKI816II5B3uJftGjklivELww-nh7h07aRKP8j1Lbj6qPf19wL$ 
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gizmodo.com/common-ct-scans-are-major-cancer-risk-study-claims-2000588963__;!!KGKeukY!3QiV5I4K5v5DkFeVCQcvqSvpeu1GCW4Xu2kfC-OIisjve02FMcil1jtQ4DKwavLox_91CTk9e1T7WF2R_hfH5GcmWjHVWZJE1htAOpCHBbVsiPc$>).
> The author reached out for outside comment in advance of publication, and I
> am grateful that he did, as I was able to (with help from Cynthia
> McCollough and Rebecca Milman) provide some additional context and
> critiques.
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Mark P. Supanich, Ph.D., DABR, FAAPM* (he/him)
>
> Director – Diagnostic Medical Physics
>
> Rush University System for Health
>
> Associate Professor & Vice Chair for Physics and Informatics
>
> Rush Medical College Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear
> Medicine
>
> O: 312.563.4552
>
> *Book time with Mark Supanich
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/359cac7eb98843cab54ba1332197fc80@rush.edu?anonymous&ep=pcard__;!!KGKeukY!3QiV5I4K5v5DkFeVCQcvqSvpeu1GCW4Xu2kfC-OIisjve02FMcil1jtQ4DKwavLox_91CTk9e1T7WF2R_hfH5GcmWjHVWZJE1htAOpCHDsvvcb4$>*
>
> [image: RUSH]
>
>
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