The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently investigated the possibility of CT Radiation overdose and discovered that radiation overdose is more common than it expected to find. As a result of these findings, the FDA has released a press release with instructions on how to prevent CT radiation overdose.
The press release by the FDA reveals that there have been 206 patients that have had radiation overdose in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles over an 18-month period. The FDA has found an additional 50 patients who have been exposed to excess radiation. The press release by the FDA also chronicled how the radiation overdose sometimes exceeded eight times more than the expected level and involved more than one manufacturer of equipment for CT radiation.
As a result of these instances of radiation overdose, patients can suffer from increased risks of cancer and cataracts. Officials recommend that precautions be taken. NPR quotes Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health as saying, "While we do not know yet the full scope of the concern, facilities should take reasonable steps to double-check their approach."