Forums » Off duty » General » As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
|
As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
posted at 16/6/2012 7:48 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 311
First: 7/5/2009 Last: 2/4/2013 |
Although the risk is relatively small, many parents and doctors are raising such concerns as the use of CT scanning has surged among the young. About 7 million of the scans are performed annually in children in the United States, a figure that has been rising 10 percent a year, according to the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, a consortium of medical organizations. |
|
|
Re: As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
posted at 16/6/2012 8:22 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
This study published online in April in the journal Radiology found that in almost 17 million emergency room visits by children from 1999 to 2007, the odds of a child’s receiving a CT scan rose every year. Those findings bolster research published in the same journal last year, which found that the number of ER visits nationally in which children were given CT scans rose fivefold between 1995 and 2008 — from 330,000 annually to 1.65 million. Many children get more than one scan. According to the National Cancer Institute, about a third who have undergone CT scans have had at least three. Frush and other doctors said there’s a good reason for that: The scans produce detailed images that can help them diagnose and monitor problems. “CT is a very, very helpful tool,” Frush said. “It is lifesaving.” But sometimes, doctors said, it is overused as parents push for an extra measure of assurance that a child is all right and as physicians try to guard against getting sued. “Defensive medicine is very prevalent and does drive what people do,” Frush said. Many medical providers have pledged to reduce unnecessary CTs, with 15,798 signing on to an alliance campaign developed five years ago called Image Gently. That campaign promotes performing scans only when the medical benefit is clear. A recent study suggests the number of CTs performed in children may be starting to drop in some places. Some studies have already revealed rising incidence of brain tumors & leukemia in children undergoing CTs. |
|
|
Re: As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
posted at 16/6/2012 8:57 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1789
First: 7/3/2009 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Note another thing: we do know now that carriers of ATM and Fanconi genes mutations(heterozygotes) as well as other genes associated with increased DNA fragility of DNA repair problems are more susceptible to radiation damage. I hope in near future it will be possible to scan for these in fast essays in order to prevent as much as possible dangerous consequences, so those subgroups will be subjected to minimal and most necessary imaging. Another thing would be the wider availability of MRI, but that is in future, costly, and the imaging with it takes much more time then with CT. Another issue is that we don't really know much about long term consequences of the magnetic fields of MRI.
|
|
|
Re: As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
posted at 16/6/2012 10:10 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow: Note another thing: we do know now that carriers of ATM and Fanconi genes mutations(heterozygotes) as well as other genes associated with increased DNA fragility of DNA repair problems are more susceptible to radiation damage. I hope in near future it will be possible to scan for these in fast essays in order to prevent as much as possible dangerous consequences, so those subgroups will be subjected to minimal and most necessary imaging. Another thing would be the wider availability of MRI, but that is in future, costly, and the imaging with it takes much more time then with CT. Another issue is that we don't really know much about long term consequences of the magnetic fields of MRI. Posted by yoram chaiter An important clinical information Dr. Yoram! Many thanks. We should go for MRI instead of the old & highly radiation prone CTs. With MRI not only the accuracy is enhanced but there is no evidence todate of any dangerous side effects of the magnetic field, instead it could be advantageous to our health. |
Forums » Off duty » General » As CT scans become more common for children, concerns about radiation grow
