The blame is escalating regarding increased reports of radiation overdoses across the country. CT brain scan blunders are more prevalent than previously imagined, according to a New York Times probe.

Patients have reported conditions more troubling than losing hair and skin reddening. Those who received the worst overdoses have complained of headaches, confusion and memory loss. Experts contend some could suffer devastating long-term conditions such as cancer and brain damage.

A CT perfusion scan identifies a stroke through a series of blood flow images, but the procedure requires more radiation than other scans so proper administration is imperative. The Times investigation revealed that although technicians sometimes failed to know how to appropriately do that, new concerns are emerging about machine design and adequate staff training.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued alerts last October and December 2009, that Toshiba and General Electric machines used in bungled CT scans were erroneously calibrated and subjected brain scan patients to excessive radiation doses.The FDA indicated approximately 269 patients at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles were injured in this manner; another 37 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank; and 65 more at Alabama’s Huntsville Hospital.  At the same time, the agency was also examining 10 California cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center.

Apparently, the CT scan machines had been adjusted to a higher level in February 2008, but were not noticed for 18 month when patients started complaining of hair loss and skin reddening.

Alabama patients suffered the worst overdoses–about 13 times more radiation than normal, said the Times. The relevant scanner’s maker, GE Healthcare, claims technicians purposely used high levels to glean clearer images. Experts told the Times that such a measure is “unjustified and potentially dangerous.”

Since the FDA issued its initial alert, the number of individuals known to have been exposed to excessive CT perfusion scan radiation has increased to over 400. A total of eight hospitals, six located in California, have been identified, wrote the Times. A health official in that state predicts that many more will be discovered as states intensify their search.

“I cannot believe that this is not occurring in the rest of the country,” said Kathleen Kaufman, head of radiation management for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “That’s why we are so keen on the rest of the states to go look at this,” quoted the Times.

The FDA has determined that a faulty machine was not the cause of radiation overdoses in California and elsewhere, but they haven’t ascertained what was. Officials at Cedars Sinai speculate that a feature which automatically adjusts the dose according to a patient’s size and body part could be the culprit, said the Times. Fine if it works, but when used with certain machine settings, the automatic feature raised the dose instead of decreasing it.

This flaw is thought to be the reason for overdoses at Cedars-Sinai and Glendale Adventists.

GE affirms hospitals should have known how to safely use the automatic feature and that it has limited utility for a perfusion scan. GE also cited hospital technologists for not noticing dosing levels on their treatment screens, wrote the Times.

The hospitals argue that GE trainers did not adequately prepare hospital staff during multiple training sessions.

However, experts told the Times that scanners could have been better designed to prevent overdose occurrences by alerting operators or closing down when a dose inched too high.