Reducing radiation risk from imaging tests

 Modern medicine we know of today is nothing short of miraculous when it comes to the ability to peer inside the body without opening it up.  Thanks to imaging tests such as X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, and mammograms, these procedures have saved countless lives and significantly increase a physician’s ability to accurately diagnosis, stage, and treat conditions that in years past would have gone undetected.  

However, over the years, concerns have been raised about the overuse of many types of scans in the U.S., not only because of the huge and growing expense and risk of over diagnosis, but also because of the potential cancer risk from the radiation they emit.

How risky is it to get a scan?

For the most part, if the use of scans is used judiciously and infrequent, their benefits outweigh any risks.  People, who work in the medical field of radiology, are well-trained and versed on taking patient care very seriously and will use the lowest dose of radiation possible to achieve high quality images. 

To understand more about the risk of radiation, it helps to know that each of us is exposed to some background radiation just by going about our daily lives.  For example, just sitting in front of your computer or watching TV, you will be exposed to low levels of radiation emitted from these devices. Other sources of low levels of radiation include our drinking water, natural gas used for cooking and heating, our cell phones, fluorescent lamps, watches, clocks, the soil, and even traveling on a plane, all emit some form of radiation but at low enough rates that they have no known effect on your health.

When it comes to having to have a medical imaging scan done, you may worry about the risk of overexposure to radiation possibly leading to cancer.  For most of us, occasional imaging procedures throughout your life won’t be an issue.  However, doctors must balance the valuable medical information from these procedures against the slight increased risk that too much radiation may cause.

Certain imaging tests, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound, involve no radiation.  Other imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, mammograms, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine, do expose you to small amounts of radiation.  The amount of radiation varies from test to test and depends on a number of other factors, including your weight, the number of “views” taken, the equipment, and the imaging facility’s procedures.  Generally, most X-rays, including mammograms and bone density tests, have very small amounts of radiation. 

Steps helping minimize risk of exposure to radiation during a medical scan

The potential for an increased risk of cancer due to medical exams using radiation is very small, so there’s no reason to forgo an imaging test or X-ray-assisted procedure that could better your health or prolong your life.   This is especially true for older adults as potential radiation-caused cancer development may not occur for decades.  Also consider that CT and PET scanners in use today use a much lower radiation dose than was used even just a few years ago.  Radiation doses are further kept to a minimum when the dose is tailored specifically to body size and diagnostic requirements. 

But, to be on the safe side, it is best to err on the side of caution.  Here are some steps to keep medical radiation exposure to a minimum:

·      Work with your doctor to make sure your test is necessary and appropriate.  When the need for a scan or test isn’t obvious, ask if the results are likely to change the course of your treatment. If not, it may be unnecessary.

·      If you switch doctors, have image files transferred over to your new doctor to avoid repeat X-ray exams.

·      When possible, have your exam performed at a center nationally accredited by the American College of Radiology.

·      Follow instructions before your exam, and hold still during it so that it’s not necessary to repeat the test.