CT Radiation Overdoses Caused by User Error, FDA Says

While unnecessary radiation exposure should be avoided, a medically needed CT scan has benefits that outweigh the radiation risks, the FDA emphasized in its statement. (The announcement comes days after a large national study by the National Cancer Institute that found screening current or former heavy smokers with a CT scan can reduce deaths from lung cancers by 20 percent.)

Dave Fisher, executive director of MITA, tells HealthLeaders Media that his organization looks forward to working with the FDA in the coming weeks; he points out that the recommendations in FDA's letter are issues MITA has been working on with FDA over the last year.

Although the problems were not attributed to CT scanner malfunction, he stressed MITA's commitment to developing technologies that reduce radiation levels—and to educating users: "Our companies provide training? and we're happy to provide additional training as appropriate."

The FDA's complete report can be found here.

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