X-raying pregnant women and young infants increases childhood cancer risk

Health professionals are being urged to use caution when recommending an x-ray on pregnant women or babies due to cancer risks.

A new study published on the British Medical Journal website, finds there is the potential to increase the risk of children developing cancer if exposed to x-rays during this early part of their development.

Researchers found no increased risk from the use of ultrasound scans, but a small increase in cancer risk for children who were x-rayed before the age of three months or during pregnancy.

There are also concerns that computed tomography (CT) scans and other imaging procedures are increasingly being used on young children.

As part of the Childhood Cancer Study (UKCCS), researchers looked at information on 2,690 children with cancer, and 4,858 healthy children.

All were born between 1976 and 1996 and data concerning their exposure to radiographic and ultrasound examinations was collated.

Of these children, 305 had radiographic related examinations during their mother’s pregnancy and 170 were given an x-ray during early infancy.

A 13,723 were subjected to an ultrasound during their mother’s pregnancy and 138 ultrasound scans were carried out during early infancy,

Researchers found there was a ‘slightly’ higher risk for all cancers and leukemia is exposed to x-rays during pregnancy.

An increased risk of lymphoma as well as a small risk for all cancers and leukemia was also found with young infants having x-rays.

The researchers say: “Our results, which indicate possible risks of cancer from radiation at doses lower than those associated with CT scans, suggest a need for cautious use of diagnostic radiation imaging procedures to the abdomen/pelvis of the mother during pregnancy and in children at very young ages.”