cat scans

[MelissP]

My MD is ordering a pelvic cat scan to verify the current state
of affairs.

Is that safe, having so much x-exposure down there?
How much small (non-bone) detail is it likely to catch?

Thanks,
Meliss

[Sarra]

A CAT scan is... Uh, I think it uses powerful magnets, or am I confusing it with an MRI?

Anyway, you should be okay for a CAT scan. If it wasn't safe, then... Well, the building would be having a nuclear winter. You'll be fine, you can get X rayed thousands of times before the amount of actual radiation your body absorbs because a concern.

As for how detailed... That depends on the equipment. You might want to ask that before the actual scan.

[Betsy]

Any danger you would encounter would be an allergic reaction to the dye (usually iodine based) they use---if they use any.

It can take awhile and get uncomfortable because you need to lay really still. I had some done on me while recuperating from when I broke my body ---that sucked because laying flat on the table with a broken pelvis was extremely uncomfortable and painful, even with the drugs they gave me to help.

Betsy

[Dana Gold]

Hi!

Well, I've had a skull CAT scan w/o contrast agent, colonoscopy, upper and lower GI scans, numerous dental and orthopaedic X-rays performed on me ...AND, I work in the Radiation Safety section (Health Physics) of the University's Environmental Health and Safety Dept....so I'm familiar with radiation, especially ionizing , which is what's used in various diagnostic procedures and , surprisingly, is everywhere in Nature. Basically, the amount of absorbed radiation during the CT procedure depends upon 3 factors: length of procedure time and amount of area scanned and whether it is an older or newer machine.....scan time appx 15-20 minutes ; pelvic region, and newer machine may give you a one-time dose of about 100-150 mRem, which is equivalent to about 1/2 times the yearly amount from what you get from Nature (background radiation, the Sun, cosmic rays, soil, etc) and man-made sources (TV, airports etc)......all in all, a state-of-the art CT scanner delivers a comparatively minimal amount of ionizing radiation....it's the (sometimes multiple) whole body scans that some people get that are more likely to produce absorbed lebvels of real concern.

http://www.nsc.org/issues/rad/exposure.htm

Secondly, as Betsy said, the contrast agents (iodine etc) may be of concern, and the link below provides some more info on the procedure itself and related questions and answers: I don't know if you can retrieve/download the first link below (I couldn't)...so , use the 2nd link, enter CAT scan in the Search box....and the info should get to you:

http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/patients/education/ct/cqa4

http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/index.html

It's always good to be informed about the facts of any medical procedure, fear and worry are health risks in and by themselves.

Dana