In this months Nursing Journal there is an article that discusses CT (also called "CAT" scans) scans. CT scanning is used as a diagnostic tool... unfortunately this sort of tool is being overused.

#1- one CT scan is 250 times 1 x-ray scan in radiation content.

#2- Three (3) CT scans has the same radiation levels that Hiroshima and Nagasaki did.

#3- Children and young adults are at the greatest risk for developing cancer because the effects of the radiation causes a slow-developing cancer.

#4 CT scans should only be used after all other forms of testing has been exhausted.

CT Scan data

WOW Sher! Thanks for the info.. that's unbelievable!!

Wow, sounds scary.

Yeah, I didn't know how dangerous it was either.

The only time I would use this sort of tool is if I already had cancer and needed to really determine where it was and that sort of thing...

OR if I was already old enough I WOULDN'T develop cancer because I wasn't going to LIVE long enough!

This is a concept taken WAY out of context. The concern has mainly to do with the "fad" of getting whole body scans for "screening" -- the highly advertised and generally ethicially challenged concept of selling otherwise healthy people on getting body scans as some sort of checkup. In the context of illness, whereas it's undoubtedly true that many doctors order, and/or patients insist on CT scans when other less expensive modalities would suffice, CT scans CLEARLY save lives, avoid unnecessary procedures, and are a boon to the care of sick people. They also can be over-used in sick people: a great example is that in many emergency rooms appendicitis is virtually never diagnosed without a CT scan, when in the majority of cases it can be diagnosed with a physical exam. But, because of considerations of time, worry about "unnecessary" operations, etc, it typically is ordered even before consulting a surgeon. And surgeons are busy enough that they'd rather get the call from the ER only after the test is done and the diagnosis made, as opposed to breaking up their schedule to go to the ER to see and evaluate the patient. I always did the latter; but I'm old school. On the other hand, there's no evidence, other than playing with certain statistics, that anyone ever got a cancer that could be attributed to having had several CT scans. CT scans are an absolutely wonderful addition to the armamentarium of caring for patients; like everything else, nothing is perfect. It still takes judgement to decide when to use them.

X-rays can cause damage. There's a reason the doctor leaves the room when they're given. CAT scans use x-rays, and more of them then regular 2-D x-rays, so I have no doubt they have more potential to harm. I also would not be at all surprised to learn that they are overused.


However, although I haven't read the article myself, the inclusion of point number 2, causes the article to loose a lot of credibility with me before even seeing it. It shows either an ignorance of or a disregard for the ways radiation is measured and effects the body.


If you use the right units, you can make anything sound scary. Below, I'm giving some estimates using units that approximate the effect on the body:

1 year background:
1-2 mSv.

Regular x-ray:
0.01-1.7 mSv depending on the type.

CAT Scan:
2-15 mSv, depending on the type.

Accepted maximum annual dose for radiation workers:
20 mSv

100 meters from the hypocenter of the Hiroshima bombing:
180,000-450,000 mSv

1000 meters from the hypocenter:
4,400 mSv-6,200 mSv



CAT scans should not be given without good reason, but they have legitimate uses and the Hiroshima comparison is ridiculous.

yeah sharasi, i'm surprised that you make the exaggerated comparison to the a-bomb radiation.

sid...i begrudgingly...thank you for setting the record straight. radiology is a useful diagnostic tool.

the amount of radiation given during any exam is controlled. and while x-rays cannot be "focused" per say...ie: scatter radiation is present in the room...filters, lead shielding and distance from the radiation source are all methods of radiation protection.

REMEMBER: XRAY DOESN'T KILL PEOPLE
DOCTORS WHO ARE UNSURE OF THEMSELVES AND ARE FISHING FOR A CAUSE OF YOUR ILLNESS AND ORDER WHOLE BODY SCANS TO MAKE THEIR DIAGNOSIS DO!

Edited to correct page deformity caused by lengthy continuous text.

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