Tsk, Tsk Physicians

Overuse of CT scans for children with headaches.

“It’s ironic that providers sometimes use CT scans to rule out brain tumors or brain abnormalities because parents are concerned about this possibility — which is the cause of less than 1 percent of those with pediatric headache – when overuse of CT scans can increase the risk of brain tumors,” said co-author Dr. Paul Young, professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, who was one of the individuals designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics to participate in the research. “It’s possible that physicians underestimate the risks associated with CT scans.”