مهندسی پزشکی

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.

A major advantage of CT is its ability to image bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same time.

Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very detailed images of many types of tissue as well as the lungs, bones, and blood vessels.

CT examinations are fast and simple; in emergency cases, they can reveal internal injuries and bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.

CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.

CT is less sensitive to patient movement than MRI.

CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical device of any kind, unlike MRI. CT imaging provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and needle aspirations of many areas of the body, particularly

the lungs, abdomen, pelvis and bones.

A diagnosis determined by CT scanning may eliminate the need for exploratory surgery and surgical biopsy.

No radiation remains in a patient"s body after a CT examination. X-rays used in CT scans should have no immediate side effects.

Risks

There is no conclusive evidence that radiation at small amounts delivered by a CT scan causes cancer. Large population studies have shown a slight increase in cancer from much larger amounts of radiation, such as from radiation therapy. Thus, there is always concern that this risk may also apply to the lower amounts of radiation delivered by a CT exam. When a CT scan is recommended by your doctor, the expected benefit of this test outweighs the potential risk from radiation. You are encouraged to discuss the risks versus the benefits of your CT scan with your doctor or radiologist, and to explore whether alternative imaging tests may be available to diagnose your condition.

The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Safety page for more information about radiation dose.

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray or CT technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. See the Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.

CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary because of potential risk to the fetus in the womb.

Manufacturers of intravenous contrast indicate mothers should not breastfeed their babies for 24-48 hours after contrast medium is given. However, both the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology note that the available data suggest that it is safe to continue breastfeeding after receiving intravenous contrast. For further information please consult the ACR Manual on Contrast Media and its references.

 The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.