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Alarm about computed tomography scans is unjustified

Carl M Blecher
Med J Aust 2010; 192 (12): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03718.x
Published online: 21 June 2010

To the Editor: Alarm about the dangers of computed tomography (CT) scans1,2 is unjustified. The only hard facts about bio-harm from ionising radiation come from the 1945 atomic bomb explosions, which emitted very large amounts of radiation. Bio-harm from low-dose medical radiation has never been confirmed; the claim is based on backward extrapolation of data on radiation doses from the Japanese atomic bombs, which were orders of magnitude greater than doses in diagnostic radiation.


  • Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: carl.blecher@gmail.com

  • 1. de Campo JF, de Campo MP. Is informed consent necessary for computed tomography in children and young adults [letter]? Med J Aust 2010; 192: 423. <MJA full text>
  • 2. Metherell M. Overuse of scans causes cancers. Sydney Morning Herald 2010; 15 Mar. http://www.smh.com.au/national/overuse-of-scans-causes-cancers-20100314-q675.html (accessed May 2010).
  • 3. Tubiana M, Feinendegen LE, Yang C, Kaminski JM. The linear no-threshold relationship is inconsistent with radiation biologic and experimental data. Radiology 2009; 251: 13-22.
  • 4. Cohen BL. Cancer risk from low-level radiation. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2002; 179: 1137-1143.
  • 5. Health Physics Society. Radiation risk in perspective: position statement of the Health Physics Society (adopted Jan 1996, revised Aug 2004). McLean, Va: Health Physics Society, 2004. http://www.hps.org/documents/risk_ps010-1.pdf (accessed May 2010).
  • 6. Berrington A, Darby SC, Weiss HA, Doll R. 100 years of observation on British radiologists: mortality from cancer and other causes 1897-1997. Br J Radiol 2001; 74: 507-519.

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