CT scans use ionizing radiation, which high-level organizations acknowledge as a potential risk factor for DNA damage.
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests a statistical association between high scan volumes and future cancer cases, but lacks direct human evidence.
Medical professionals apply the ALARA and ALADAIP principles to ensure radiation exposure is kept to the absolute minimum required for diagnosis.
Diagnostic alternatives like ultrasound and MRI are frequently prioritized when they can provide sufficient clinical information without using radiation.