How many CT scans is too much?

[mosler]

I have chronic mesenteric vein thrombosis(it's in the superior mesen. vein) & have monthly trips to the ER for severe abdominal pain.  They always want to do a CT scan.  I've had 9 scans in the last year & a half , & every doctor says that's way too many, but they want to do " just one more".  Last time they did one, 12 hours later they came back & wanted to do another & I told them no way.  I'm 60 & need to know when to & when not to have a scan.

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

Surely there is a doc that is following you for this serious problem. If you ask the ER physician to contact them before the imaging study more appropriate tests could be performed.

[mosler]

The ER doctors are the ones ordering all the scans when I get taken in for severe abdominal pain.  I've asked for ultrasound or MRI & am always told they either won't work for what they're looking for or the MRI techs don't work after hours or on weekends.  

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

What physician is following you? If they are looking for extension of the thrombus either a ultrasound or MRI would answer the question without radiation.