CT scans are a safe and painless procedure that have been used since 1971 to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Although some scientists fear increased use could lead to more cancer cases, doctors believe the benefits outweigh the potential dangers. Patients should only request a scan if they exhibit symptoms that would benefit from being studied through the images captured by a CT scan.
Computed tomography, also known as a CT scan, has been used since 1971 to detect the disease in people and provide guidance on how to treat it. A CT scan is generally considered safe to use; so safe that doctors consider it one of their most trusted medical devices. This X-ray procedure is painless and commonly used in hospitals. Several images are taken during the scan. After this occurs, a computer organizes the images into detailed images of bone, tissue and blood vessels.
When a patient undergoes this procedure, they are exposed to a small amount of radiation. This radiation is used to take a picture of the patient’s internal organs. Once the scan is finished, no traces of radiation remain inside the body. The image captured by the CT scan is an accurate and detailed image that allows the doctor to diagnose and pinpoint a number of medical conditions.
As technology has improved over the decades, CT scan performance has improved as well. The images created by the new scans are so detailed that less radiation is required. Despite the benefits of the scans, some scientists fear that increased use of this equipment could lead to more cancer cases. Because large amounts of radiation are known to cause cancer, some scientists believe these scans are being overused.
Scientists and doctors have differing opinions on the safety of CT scans. Doctors are convinced of its benefits because only a small amount of radiation is used in a scan. To date, no cases of cancer have been linked to the use of CT scans. In fact, many clinicians believe that the benefits of using the equipment far outweigh the potential dangers of using them. This is because the radiation doses used in the scan are lower than what has actually been linked to cancer.
Despite these facts, patients are discouraged from requesting a scan unless they are exhibiting symptoms that would benefit from being studied through the images captured by a CT scan. However, scans are not foolproof. Diseases such as diabetes cannot be diagnosed by examining a CT image. If a patient is scheduled for a CT scan, she should consult the doctor to determine why the doctor has recommended one. While doctors consider the procedure to be risk-free, that doesn’t mean radiation should be used without good cause.
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