Chest CT scans up breast cancer risk

Use of medical imaging has surged, and a new study suggests the trend carries a risk. Having multiple cardiac and chest CT scans may increase the chances of breast cancer. The risk appears higher for younger women. A girl or young woman under age 23 who has two high-dose cardiac or chest CT scans doubles the risk of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. The study was presented at the Radiology Society of North America annual meeting.

Nuclear medicine examinations may also contribute to breast cancer risk, the study found. Although the number of nuclear-imaging scans -- scans that use a small amount of a radioactive compound -- decreased over the 10-year period, about 84 percent of those performed in 2010 exposed the chest to radiation, according to the study.

Because breast tissue is so sensitive to radiation exposure, imaging providers should pay attention to radiation doses and use dose-reduction software wherever possible.