What are some risk of CT scanning?

• Estimated 3 million scans in 1980 has increased to 62 million scans currently obtained each year in the United States.
• CT scanning is being used as a screening tool of asymptomatic patients.
• Physicians are ording CT scans to try to avoid law suits.
• Human error is common when it comes to overexposure to radiation.
• Technologist who are not properly trained can over expose patients.
• Example: A case of a 23 month old boy that was over exposed causing radiation burns to this patient. The case started with the parents just taking their child to the ER after the toddler had fallen out of bed. This exam usually takes between 5-15 minutes depending on the equipment, but in this case it took over an hour. During the exceeded exam time, the patient endured 151scans.
• When technologist do not properly set the technique, the patients can be overexposed.
• Example: The Chicago Tribune reports, " Some hospitals and freestanding centers still administer adult-size doses of radiation to children."
• Machine error that causes over exposure to radiation, the machine may not be calibrated correctly.
• Example: CT brain perfusions are scans that some facilities use to try to diagnosis strokes. During 2009-2010 about 400 patients have been overexposed during their CT brain perfusion exam causing patients to have hair loss and skin redness.



References:



Brenner, D. J., & Hall, P. D. (2007). Computed tomography- an increasing source of

            radiation exposure. The New England Journal of Medicine, 357, 2277-2284.

Rehani, M., & Frush, D.  (2010). Tracking radiation exposure of patients.  The Lancet,

376 (9743), 754-755. Retrieved from https://login.lib-proxy.usi.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/74976971?accountid=14752

Sanchez, R. (2011).  Bringing down the dose. Retrieved from

http://imaging-radiation-oncology.advanceweb.com/Student-and-New-Grad-Center/Student-Papers/Bringing-Down-the-Dose.aspx

Yin, S. (2010). Children undergo unnecessary CT scans, risk overexposure to radiation.

Retrieved from http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/children--CT-scans-risk-overexposure-radiation/2010-08-04