Ask These Questions to Avoid Unnecessary Radiation in Medical Scans
X-rays and CT scans use radiation to make beautiful pictures. We put up with the small risk of radiation, because letting the doctor look inside us is very beneficial. However, some scans are unnecessary and some give higher radiation doses than you might imagine. Here’s how to know when to say yes to a scan and when to ask for a second opinion.
One X-ray won’t kill you, but lifelong exposure does matter. Someone who has frequent scans, especially scans with a high dose of radiation (such as certain types of computed tomography), will have a slightly increased risk of cancer . A new Consumer Reports summarizes radiation doses from various scans and why you might question your doctor in some cases. First, here’s a rundown of the expected amount of radiation from each scan type:
- Ultrasound and MRI do not use radiation.
- Mammograms use low doses of radiation. (There are laws that limit the radiation dose to mammography.)
- According to Consumer Reports, X-rays use a “minimum to medium” radiation dose. Fluoroscopy , a kind of video X-ray, produces higher doses than conventional X-rays.
- CT scans can range from a minimal dose to a very high dose, up to the equivalent of 200 X-rays.
- In a PET scan , a small amount of radioactive tracer material is introduced into your body. They range from medium to high impact.
Not all scans are medically necessary. Some of them are a repetition of a previously performed scan that did not need to be repeated, some are the result of the doctor wanting to be confident in the diagnosis in order to avoid responsibility and not be too cynical, but some are the result of a financial conflict of interest when the doctor owns an office equipment or invested in a radiology clinic. Some experts say that up to one third of a CT scan is not required . And unnecessary scans often result in re-scans to confirm and track random results that might not actually be a problem.
Consumer Reports suggests asking for a second opinion if you know your doctor owns a CT scanner (yes, you can ask about financial conflicts of interest), or if they recommend a full body CT scan or 3D dental scan.
Otherwise, you can reduce your radiation levels by asking your doctor questions, including:
- Why are you ordering this test and what happens if I don’t receive it?
- How much radiation will I be exposed to? Is there an alternative scan with less radiation?
- Are we using the lowest effective dose? Did you factor in my body size?
- Have you checked if I have had this scan lately?
To find out more about how much radiation you get from different scans, read the full article on Consumer Reports.
The Unexpected Dangers of Computed Tomography and X-rays | Consumer reports
Photo by Icethim .