Question 1

new gastro dr. wants me to have another ct with contrast. i'm worried about radiation since having multiple x-ray/ct since i was 22.

Accepted Answer

Meet with: Radiology physicist at hospital to calculate your received dose and risks for future imaging. Also see radiologyinfo.Org.

Question 2

do upper gi series and ct scans have much more radiation than a simple x-ray?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but...: By "simple x-ray" i'm assuming you mean a single film. Both UGI series and ct scans are, on the other hand, multiple images.  As such, many x-ray pictures require more radiation than a single one.  Of course, its important to understand why various radiographs are ordered, & view the benefits of each study in context with the amount of x-ray exposure needed.

Question 3

do nuclear scans expose a patient to more radiation than an x-ray or ct scan?

Accepted Answer

Depends..: It depends on what type of nuclear study you are having done.  There are many different radiotracers and each has a different half life and different decay mode.  For ct scan,  it depends on how much of the body is scanned and what the settings on the scanner are.   Is it a ct of the chest?  Ct of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis?

Question 4

how much cost/how much radiation on new ct scans would coronary calcium scan be on the whole body? could this be done with new tech x-ray and no ct?

Accepted Answer

Very small amount: However, a coronary calcium scan should only be done in the presence of intermediate or high risk of having coronary artery disease, Asymptomatic individuals without at least 3 risk factors for coronary artery disease (Diabetes, Hypertension, tobacco use, elevated cholesterol, Obesity, etc.) have a very high likelihood of having a falsely positive scan, thus rendering an abnormal scan unreliable.

Question 5

i have had 2 ct scans with contrast 2 x-ray exams plus yearly mammograms since 40 years old im now 51 plus some dental exams. too much radiation?

Accepted Answer

Radiation: That's a question you have to ask the practitioners who have ordered your imaging. It's a balance of  information received vrs radiation exposure. Obviously your physician(s) feel there is enough risk indicated in your medical history to warrant the testing. As to 14-18 full mouth series Dental x-rays the levels are less than 1/10th that of a mammogram.

Question 6

can you get radiation sickness from having three head ct scans and a head x-ray in a month worried?

Accepted Answer

: No, you should not. Take care.

Question 7

my chest x-ray wasnt clear and now i am supposed to get a chest ct. can i get another x-ray instead? i am concerned with the radiation from the chest ct?

Accepted Answer

Depends: You don't mention what the lung findings are. ? unresolving pneumonia. ? nodule. The CT scan shows much more detail than a routine PA &amp; lateral chest x-ray. Ask your physician to see if the radiologist thinks a low dose CT scan would yield sufficient information in your case.

Question 8

what is the difference between nuclear medicine radiation and ct/x-ray? is it true that the only radiation you receive in nuclear medicine is the radioactive tracer that is administered into your vein? if so, does this radiation not accumulate as ct/x ray

Accepted Answer

It : It is true that the radioactive tracer is injected into your body so the the gamma rays are coming out of your body as the tracer is decaying away.  With x-rays (including ct), the radiation is coming from outside of your body, going through your body and being detected like a shadow on the other side of your body.  Some of the energy is absorbed on the way through your body.  This is the energy which causes damage.  The energy is only going through your body when the x-ray tube in the device is on.  In nuclear medicine, the energy is being absorbed on the way out of your body.  The energy is being produced inside your body for a much longer time than x-ray or ct although the amount of energy per second is much lower.  Smart people from the department of energy have done calculations which can compare the amount of energy received from a nuclear medicine bone scan vs a ct scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis for example which are available in tables.  See http://www.Physics.Isu.Edu/radinf/risk.Htm

to completely answer your question, a gamma ray from nuclear medicine is almost identical to an x-ray made by a ct scanner although my friends in physics will not be completely happy with my answer.

Question 9

had 2 chest x rays front/side views.had 1 ct abdomin, 1 x-ray of neck front/side, 1x ray of my spine for scoliosis front/side, worried radiation exspose?

Accepted Answer

Risk vs Benefit: Make sure there is good medical necessity before more tests using ionizing radiation. Ct carries the highest dose.

But, the risk of the current medical problem may easily outweigh the potential future risk.

Almost all data is from nuclear incidents with much higher radiation in 1 large dose.  It is difficult to calculate risk at low levels used in x-rays and ct over months/yrs.

Question 10

45 f. ive had a total of 7 radiology tests within the past year (ct and x-ray)for various health issues. concerned about radiation exposure and cancer now? suppose to get mammogram and another ct this year, scared to have them done. should i cancel?

Accepted Answer

: Not knowing all your history &amp; clinical findings, I don't think we could advise you to skip those tests. There are no guidelines of how many CT scans one should have in their lifetime. I do know that it is more of a concern for children who are at risk for other cancers later in life. I'm confident that your physicians feel the benefits of the testing recommended outweigh any risks.

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Doctor answers about:

X ray vs ct radiation

A member asked:

New gastro dr. wants me to have another ct with contrast. i'm worried about radiation since having multiple x-ray/ct since i was 22.

A member asked:

Do upper gi series and ct scans have much more radiation than a simple x-ray?

A member asked:

Do nuclear scans expose a patient to more radiation than an x-ray or ct scan?

A member asked:

How much cost/how much radiation on new ct scans would coronary calcium scan be on the whole body? could this be done with new tech x-ray and no ct?

A member asked:

I have had 2 ct scans with contrast 2 x-ray exams plus yearly mammograms since 40 years old im now 51 plus some dental exams. too much radiation?

A member asked:

Can you get radiation sickness from having three head ct scans and a head x-ray in a month worried?

A member asked:

My chest x-ray wasnt clear and now i am supposed to get a chest ct. can i get another x-ray instead? i am concerned with the radiation from the chest ct?

A member asked:

What is the difference between nuclear medicine radiation and ct/x-ray? is it true that the only radiation you receive in nuclear medicine is the radioactive tracer that is administered into your vein? if so, does this radiation not accumulate as ct/x ray

A member asked:

Had 2 chest x rays front/side views.had 1 ct abdomin, 1 x-ray of neck front/side, 1x ray of my spine for scoliosis front/side, worried radiation exspose?

A member asked:

45 f. ive had a total of 7 radiology tests within the past year (ct and x-ray)for various health issues. concerned about radiation exposure and cancer now? suppose to get mammogram and another ct this year, scared to have them done. should i cancel?

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