Question 1

is there a tool that a dr. can use to check the level of patients radiation exposure from all the x-rays and ct scans in ones life?

Accepted Answer

No: The list of Possible Things To Worry About from cradle to grave is infinitely long.  The radiation exposure from medical testing is low on that list, unless one has a bad medical disorder and is getting repeated scans over and over.

Question 2

ive had 2 ct scans and 3 x-rays im very concerned this will cause cancer scans were 4 years apart plus ive had 5 mammograms very scared about radiation exposure ?

Accepted Answer

Sounds ok...: It is very unlikely that a patient develops cancer from just having 2 or 3 CT scans. Life in the modern world causes cancer (and of course there was cancer before modern times), but having 2-3 CT scans will make no noticeable difference when compared to everything else we face in life. In California, we have "useless" signs posted everywhere, warning about cancer-causing substances.

Question 3

2 ct scans of the abdomen 3 years apart 3 x-rays on abdomen 3 years or more apart 4 mammograms and 1 mri so worried now about radiation exposure?

Accepted Answer

Radiation risk: The theoretical increased risk is minimal.  MRI does not use ionizing radiation, so the number of MRIs is not relevant.  You can estimate the increased risk, and help put it in perspective, with an interactive tool at xrayrisk.com

Question 4

sister has had 3 ct scans on abdomen multiple x-rays and mammograms also dental x-rays concerned about radiation exposure 50 years old too much?

Accepted Answer

Risk vs. benefit: There is a very small risk from each exposure to x-rays, however, the benefit from the diagnostic study usually outweighs the risk of radiation exposure. Have a healthy diet, exercise 30 minutes/day, drink plenty of water, have safe sex, no tobacco alcohol weed or street drugs. For nutrition: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/.

Question 5

what are potential side effects of ct scan due to radiation exposure?

Accepted Answer

Minimal: Any radiation has a risk of inducing cancer. The need for CT has be balanced against the minor risk of cancer from radiation for CT.

Question 6

in case of ct scan related radiation exposure why is it said that life time effects are cumulative when even a single scan carries risk.

Accepted Answer

Can't undo damage.: There are 2 biological effects of radiation: the 1st is random DNA damage - any stray radiation can permanently alter DNA &amp; cause a mutation (cancer). The 2nd is "radiation sickness". Every organ has a lifetime limit of radiation that it can absorb; beyond the threshold, damage continues to mount. For the 2nd type, the time between radiation exposure doesn't matter, only the total lifetime dose.

Question 7

just wondering if i were to have a ct scan of the chest what is the exposure to radiation and the likelihood of developing cancer from it?

Accepted Answer

Chest CT radiation: exposure depends on the type of chest CT performed. Total effective dose for a "standard" Chest CT is about 7mSv. The theoretical increased lifetime cancer risk is about 0.04%.  This is theoretical, there is some debate whether doses in this range have any effect. However, to put that risk into perspective, the average person is about twice as likely to die from drowning.

Question 8

how much radiation exposure is in a 3-d digital dental ct scan?

Accepted Answer

CBCT Scan: See the following website for some basic information. It depends upon particular brand of unit, software, and extent of area scanned.  The office actually doing the scan can give you more accurate information. Call and ask.  http://www.dent.umich.edu/patients/cbct-imaging-service-frequently-asked-questions#radiation

Question 9

how much radiation exposure on a barium swallow. just wondering since may need a ct scan?

Accepted Answer

Radiation dose: from Barium Swallow averages about 6mSv.  The theoretical(and it is only theoretical) increased cancer risk from this amount of radiation is 0.03% over your baseline lifetime risk. To put this into perspective, you  are three times more likely to die by drowning.

Question 10

if my total body exposure to radiation is 22 msv, how much more radiation is my heart exposed to in a cardiac ct scan?

Accepted Answer

Not sure: I have not seen the radiation dose to the heart specifically separated out. In general cardiac ct will result in around 7-15 msv exposure. The newer generation scanners are using a lower dose of radiation so this value is dropping.

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Doctor answers about:

X ray vs ct scan radiation exposure

A member asked:

Is there a tool that a dr. can use to check the level of patients radiation exposure from all the x-rays and ct scans in ones life?

A member asked:

Ive had 2 ct scans and 3 x-rays im very concerned this will cause cancer scans were 4 years apart plus ive had 5 mammograms very scared about radiation exposure ?

A member asked:

2 ct scans of the abdomen 3 years apart 3 x-rays on abdomen 3 years or more apart 4 mammograms and 1 mri so worried now about radiation exposure?

A member asked:

Sister has had 3 ct scans on abdomen multiple x-rays and mammograms also dental x-rays concerned about radiation exposure 50 years old too much?

A member asked:

What are potential side effects of ct scan due to radiation exposure?

A member asked:

In case of ct scan related radiation exposure why is it said that life time effects are cumulative when even a single scan carries risk.

A member asked:

Just wondering if i were to have a ct scan of the chest what is the exposure to radiation and the likelihood of developing cancer from it?

A member asked:

How much radiation exposure is in a 3-d digital dental ct scan?

A member asked:

How much radiation exposure on a barium swallow. just wondering since may need a ct scan?

A member asked:

If my total body exposure to radiation is 22 msv, how much more radiation is my heart exposed to in a cardiac ct scan?

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