Risks of CT Scans New research shows that CT scan radiation may be responsible for 1 in every 20 cancer cases in the U.S. That’s over 103,000 cancers per year—from the very machines used to detect disease. Most people have no idea these scans come with ionizing radiation strong enough to damage DNA. And when multiple scans are done—especially on children—the risk skyrockets. Some estimates show up to 20 cancers per 1,000 scans for kids under 1. Safer options (if applicable): MRI Ultrasound Full-