Posted on 12/14/2009 6:26:49 PM PST by Steelfish
This has been a technican problem ongoin from decades ago. The idiots don’t set the machines correctly.
People really, really need to be wary of CT scans and only get them if really necessary. I have read that ONE CT scan can have as much radiation as 25 regular X-rays! My twin boys both had plagiocephaly (head-flattening — usually a cosmetic condition, long since cured now with my boys) and the idiot “expert” Kaiser sent us to wanted them both to have CT scans BEFORE she would even see them! I read up on CT scans and put my foot down on that. There are at least two studies (maybe more now) that implicated CT scans to the head in infants with brain cancer later on. We found a real expert who dealt with plagiocephaly all the time and he not only did not want CT scans, but he was dumbfounded that the other doc did.
Bottom line: Be SURE you need that CT scan before you get it!
me too.
The NRC sets a lifetime exposure of 50 rem for radiological industry workers. According to the industry standards, a 650 rem, total body exposure, is a lethal dose. 50% of those exposed to 650 rem are expected to die in 2 weeks. What I don't know, is how long the exposure has to be, to the whole body, to get a lethal dose at 650 rem.
Granted, a CT scan is focused, therefore practically the entire body escapes exposure to a high dose of radiation. Not something to take lightly though.
In your son's case, it is easy to discern that, the benefit of knowing how much damage to his body existed internally, versus the exposure, was worth the trade off.
That's one scary injury. Hopefully, he healed up and is healthy as ever.
Health Physics Society webpage.
http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1084.html
According to the responder in the link provided, a chest x-ray is 5-10 mrem, and the CT scan is 100-200 mrem.
Here’s part of their response...
Q: How much radiation was I exposed to for the CT sinus exam?
A: The effective dose is around 100-200 mrem. How does this compare to a chest x ray? The effective dose from a single chest x ray is around 5-10 mrem. Is a full-head CT scan more or less radiation than a sinus CT scan? Depends on the radiographic technique and how many pictures are taken. The estimate for the sinus CT would also be applicable for a head CT.
As I asked on an earlier, related post, What is the dose / exposure that is being discussed? Without that number, all this is meaningless drivel.
At 48, my lifetime dose is >30Rem. Chronic, occupational exposure. Big whoop. These articles written about ‘over-exposures’ are nothing less than ignaorant fear-mongering, unless the exposure is given.
What is ‘the risk’? At occupational levels of 1 Rem per year, there is an increase in the RISK of developing a cancer.
Well, the general population, regardless of risk factors, will have a cancer incidence of ~25%. Not fatal cancers, just cancer of some sort. 1 Rem/yr additional gives an additional .1% per Rem. My ‘risk’ would then be ~28%. Big deal.
make that 16 to 24 Rem, wjile still high, not life threatening in the least.
I knew that guy was a butt-head! ;-)
All good points, especially; in not knowing the exposure dose(s) pertaining to the original article.
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