Whether you’re suspected with heart disease or a lung disorder, a computed tomography (CT)
scan is an accepted and standardised tool for accurate diagnosis.Whether you’re suspected with heart disease or a lung disorder, a computed tomography (CT) scan is an accepted and standardised tool for accurate diagnosis. But is the radiation exposure from CT scan safe for you? But is the radiation exposure from CT scan safe for you?
According to a new study published online in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, increasing use of CT scans are putting patients at a higher lifetime risk of cancer. In order to reduce the danger, an advanced CT scanning equipment has been developed. A study was carried out by Beaumont Health System to confirm the effectiveness of this new equipment in 2,085 patients from nine centres in the US and Middle East. Results showed that the patient radiation exposure rate was reduced by 61 percent with the newer scanners. What’s more, these scanners showed no significant difference in image quality. This factor was especially true for patients having CT scans done for coronary artery disease , pulmonary embolism or aortic disease.
‘Newer technology makes a difference in terms of radiation exposure, and the difference is quite large,’ said study author Kavitha Chinnaiyan, director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging Research at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.
‘Clinicians must understand that imaging studies not only have a major impact on the care of an individual patient, but also on trends in radiation exposure, as well as overall health care costs,’ Chinnaiyan added. ‘Incidental findings may require further imaging studies with other radiation-based tests. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of testing with patients, and to refer them to centres that offer newer technologies,’ she said. The study results provide information that will help in setting standards for radiation safety quality control in cardiovascular imaging.
The study also emphasizes that patients should ask certain critical questions when they are referred for a radiation-based test. They should understand what the procedure involves,what the risks of the particular technique are and if there are any alternative imaging choices.
Here are some facts on risks of radiation exposure that you should know about:
With inputs from IANS and http://www.thehealthsite.com/