Is it dangerious to have an infant ct scan? is there any risk to an infant if she has a ct scan done?

Yes, : Yes, any imaging studies that involve ionizing radiation (x-rays, ct scans, fluoroscopy, angiography, nuclear imaging) are accompanied with an extremely small risk of developing cancer. People are normally exposed to approximately 3.0 msv of naturally occurring background radiation each year (from radon gas, cosmic rays, naturally occurring radioisotopes, etc). A ct of the head results in approximately 5.0 msv exposure; in other words, a ct of the head carries the same radiation risk as living about 1.7 years on earth. Using leukemia as an example- the normal childhood risk of developing leukemia is 1 in 6, 700; a ct of the abdomen and pelvis increases this risk to about 3 in 6, 700. Children are more at risk than adults for developing cancer because they have more time to develop cancer after the initial exposure. The average latent period before cancer develops is about 25 years for most cancers and 7 to 10 years for leukemia. However, cancer can develop more than 50 years after radiation exposure. Most modern radiology departments take great lengths to reduce the radiation exposure for pediatric patients; more information is available at www.Imagegently.Org.

Safetyfirst: If your infant needs a ct scan make sure it is done at a pediatric center which deals with children exclusively. They know how much radiation an infant may be exposed to safely. Their machines are also calibrated for children.