Side Effects of CT Scans

When doctors need a clear view of what is happening inside a patient's body, they may order a computed tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan is also called a CAT scan. The scan takes pictures of the body from various angles and can deliver a detailed picture of a person's anatomy.

Significance

• Many doctors are reluctant to order a CT scan without good reason. However, if a patient may have a serious illness, the benefits of the CT scan outweigh the potential risky side effects.

Cancer

• According to Time, the biggest concern regarding CT scans is the risk of cancer. The scan emits 500 times more radiation than a conventional X-ray exposure.

Considerations

• Although there is a risk of developing cancer from a CT scan, cancer tends to occur many years later. For children, the risk of later developing cancer is 1 in 500, and for adults the risk is 1 in 1,000.

Alternatives

• Patients can always request an alternative to CT scanning. Some alternatives include using an ultrasound or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan. These two methods allow doctors to have a better view of internal organs without the use of radiation.

Warning

• According to Cancer Research UK, women should not receive a CT scan if they are pregnant. The scan could pose additional danger to the baby.