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Radiation Safety in CT Imaging

A single CT (computed tomography) scan is generally safe. There are some health risks associated with the radiation used in these tests, but doctors consider these risks when deciding if a CT is right for an individual patient.

  1. Significance

    • During a CT scan, the Mayo Clinic reports that the tested individual is exposed to an amount of radiation much higher than that used in x-rays.

    Time Frame

    • Although a relatively high amount of radiation is used in a CT scan, the Mayo Clinic reports that exposure to this radiation lasts only a very short time.

    Effects

    • The radiation from a CT scan could increases a person's risk for developing cancer, but Medline Plus reports that the risk from a single CT scan is very low.

    Features

    • The risk from the radiation in CT scans increases with the number of CT scans a person goes through, according to Medline Plus.

    Considerations

    • Pregnant women should not have abdominal CT scans, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus. The risk of performing a CT is weighed against the risk of not performing the test.

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