CT scanning done too often

[elte]

Ionizing radiation increases chance of cancer, but most people don't know that it also ages the body.  My guess is that one CT scan takes several months off of the average life expectancy.  Same probably is the case for bone scans.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-01-su...uries.html "Twice as many patients with non-serious injuries, such as fractures or neck strain, are undergoing CT scans in emergency departments at California hospitals, according to a UCSF-led study, which tracked the use of the imaging from 2005 to 2013."

[C C]

With the aging of the U.S. population, physicians may be influenced toward greater advanced imaging even in the case of low-mechanism injuries, given the atypical presentations and more serious pathology that older adults may have," said Hsia.

There was concern 3 or 4 years ago about the yearly increase of CT scans on children. That trend was driven by defensive medicine, in response to the increased threat of litigation due to parents being involved.