“Is a head CT scan safe for children?”

Yes, it is safe

Safety is a complicated question. X-ray and CT exams utilizes ionizing radiation. All humans experience background radiation. If you were a stewardess or live a brick house you have an increased dose per year. Unnecessary scans are frowned upon by a child has a CT scan ordered it’s not taken into account. It’s typically needed and needs to be performed. the benefit outweighs the risk.

Yes and no. For the most part, a CT scan of the head in a child is safe assuming that medical necessity has been established (the risk-benefit ratio is in the patient's favor). While the radiation dose for a head CT is low nonetheless less, radiation is used in the scan. Children's anatomy is more susceptible to adverse effects of radiation than adults and the truth is we don't know an exact dose threshold for these adverse rad effects to occur. Regardless, if there are adequate alternative diagnostic tests that can be performed, assuring an imaging study is needed, then an exam such as MRI should be considered, esp. in children (rad sensitivity). MRI and ultrasound do not utilize radiation to produce images. Thanks. Dr. FMB

Yes they are safe. However if they have to get multiple CT exams, it does have a slight increased risk for some cancers as CT exams do have radiation. A few scans here or there does not result in a significant risk.

Dr Cox

Yes on modern equipment. X-ray doses have plummeted over the past several years.

Yes.