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Is It Safe To Undergo Frequent X Rays And CT Scans?

Posted on Thu, 2 Jul 2015

Question: This is in reference to a 64 year old female. and her recent radiations are as follows:
in October 2014: Knee xray
after 6 months, April 1st week of 2015, she did chest xray
and last week of april , she did Nuclear stress test for heart reasons.
As an incidental finding of nodule in the previous chest xray, they did a chest CT scan on May 5
and again, as an incidental finding on chest CT, on May 23nd, (after only 2 weeks)they did a CT with and without contrast of abdomen and pelvis
We discussed with doctors, with the 2 CT in just 2 weeks and all her radiation history. They said its nothing and not too much radiation and its important to find out the truth on incidental findings.
They further said that nowadys the CT scans machines are very hi-tech and its safe to do CT scans.
My question is , is it really true as there are so many myths on dangers of radiation thru CT scans and if needed how many CT scans should a patient have in one year?

Please advise
Thanks
Mr XXXX
New York
USA

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Mentioned number of CT scan are safe.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Yes,CT scan radiation are hazardous and these ere ionizing radiations.
But now a days,mostly spiral technique is used and they deliver less radiation to patient.
There is no such limitation of CT scan in year,it depend upon clinical requirement.
Mentioned number of CT scan are safe.It is well below the maximum allowable safe dose.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (7 hours later)

Thank you Sir. Sir, her next knee X-ray will be in october (not CT scan)
So Sir just x-ray how many we can do per year?

and as far as CT scan, her doctor said will do a follow up after a year.

So just confirming that the 2 CT scans she did in 2 weeks (one for chest and one with and without contrast for abdomen) will be ok for next one year before any further CT scan ?

Thanks again Sir
Mr XXXX
New York
USA

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
She can have knee X-rays next year.It is absolutely safe.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

She can have knee X-rays next year.It is absolutely safe.
It can deliver approximately 0.001 mSV of radiation to patient.

0.001 mSV is far less than maximum allowable safe dose for general person.
In normal adult,up to 30 mSV radiation dose is considered safe at a time and 50 mSv is considered safe in a year.In this way we can say that up to 30,000 knee X-rays are safe at a time and up to 50,000 X-rays are safe it it is done in a year.

So,There is no need to worried about.
Her CT scan exposure is also within normal limit.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (1 hour later)

Sir you are too good to explain things so nicely. Sir one last question, like you broke down the knee xray and other xrays to 30,000 and 50,000 per year, Sir it will be very helpful if you kindly tell me how many chest CT scans and how many abdominal CT scans are ok per year for adults over 60 years.

Please advise Sir on this last question.

Regards
Mr XXXX
New York
USA

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Approximately 7 CT chest and 6 abdominal CT scan are safe in a year.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Chest and abdominal CT scan can deliver approximately 7.0 mSV and 8.0 mSV of radiation to the patient respectively,so we can interpret that approximately 7 CT chest and 6 abdominal CT scan can be considered safe in a year.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Please rate my answer if you are satisfied.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar