diagnose and treat what is wrong with the patient now than to be concerned with the very low potential for cancer years into the future. Our scanners use low radiation doses overall, so the risk is thought to be justified by the value scans provide in patients’ care.
What are the benefits and risks of getting a CT scan? Benefits:
Risks:
Fast, accurate diagnosis with detailed images Ideal for emergencies and presurgical planning
A small risk for radiation-induced DNA damage Small potential for increased risk of cancer with multiple scans over time Potential allergic reaction to the contrast dye( if used)
What are the safest alternatives to CT scans for medical imaging? Low- or no-radiation alternatives to CT scans include X-rays, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging( MRIs). These do have their role and are used when they can provide comparable or superior information, but CT is fast and reliable, and has become an essential part of diagnosis, especially in the Emergency Department.
How does the number of CT scans I get affect my long-term cancer risk? If you have many CT scans over a short period, the long-term risk for cancer is thought to be higher than with fewer scans, or with scans spaced apart. But again, we should be concerned about diagnosis and treatment of the ill patient. Scans are offered only when they offer clinical value.
How do radiologists minimize radiation dose from CT scans while ensuring accurate results? Our responsibility is to keep doses as low as we can. To do that, we follow the“ As Low As Reasonably Achievable,” or ALARA, principle:
Using low-dose CT scan protocols Scanning only your necessary body parts Limiting the scan coverage to what is necessary Basing scan settings on your age, weight, and scan type Optimizing protocols from the companies that build our advanced CT scanners, which require less radiation than older models
How is my radiation exposure from multiple CT scans tracked to reduce long-term health risks? Many hospital systems, including Mount Sinai, use digital imaging records and dose