64 slice ct scan!

[jumbo49]

Are they safe with all the hoopla about radiation exposure? Are they safer than an angiogram which is more invasive???I had one and am a little freaked out!

[Bob_D]

Dear veryworry,
This is a very complex topic and I am not a radiologist. However, I was able to find out the following:
The typical radiation dose from a CT angiography scan is about 12mSv. (Wikipedia)
The Internet Journal of Radiology says the NCRP has set the upper limit for dose
to a single organ (other than the thyroid) at 500 mSv (I would imagine that is total lifetime exposure).
They also state "no one has actually demonstrated the detrimental effects of radiation from CT scans."
I would think almost any medical procedure is not without risk, but from my very limited research, there is little demonstrable danger.
Cheers

[veryworry]

Btw, the machine ithat i went thru' is a Toshiba 64 slices CT scan in Singapore...

I am not sure about the radiation dosages for a coronary angiograph CT scan but i am freaking out..

[veryworry]

Hi Bob,

Thank you for your information. Btw do you have any idea on how many "shots" are been taken for a single CT scan session(heart)?...

I heard from a doctor that one single scan is equivalent to 300-400 chest x rays.. which means that if a single x-ray is 0.1 mSv then a single scan is o.1x400=40mSv... If  4 shots were taken in a single session, then i would already asborbed 160mSv..

Am i going to develop cancer cells more probably by 50% in long term??

[Bob_D]

From what I recall, a CT scan is about the same radiation exposure as 250 chest X-rays. That figure may vary somewhat based on machine generation, model, and scan duration. I am no expert.

I think the death rate from angiography is around 2% on average, whereas the death rate from CT scans is probably unmeasurably low.

[veryworry]

Hi,

i am a 28yr old male...Recently, i went thru' a heart scanning using 64 slice CT scan machine..

I read it from the internet that the radiation is very high for a young male compared to a old male.. Can anybody tell me is that really true in term of exposure to radiation... thanks

[jim62]

Perfectly safe.  And, you get to choose if you want to die of heart trouble or radiation poisoning.  Just kidding.  From all I've heard, the ct scan is relatively safe as compared to an angiogram.