Is it worth getting a CT scan?

And for many people, the test is worth the small risk of radiation exposure. It can help doctors spot dangerous health problems and check that treatment works. Your doctor will make sure that the benefits you'd get from the scan outweigh the drawbacks before they recommend it for you.

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What are the downsides of a CT scan?

Concerns about CT scans include the risks from exposure to ionizing radiation and possible reactions to the intravenous contrast agent, or dye, which may be used to improve visualization. The exposure to ionizing radiation may cause a small increase in a person's lifetime risk of developing cancer.

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What are the pros and cons of a CT scan?

CT scans are far quieter and do not cause hearing problems compared with MRIs. CT scans are also preferable among those who are claustrophobic or anxious because the machine is more open and the X-ray device circles around the patient. The main disadvantage to having a CT scan is that it exposes your body to radiation.

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Do I really need a CT scan?

That can help them identify tumors, bleeding, blood clots, infection, fractures, and many other problems. You may need a CT scan if you are having unexplained dizziness or headaches. You may also need one if you recently suffered from a stroke or blow to the head.

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Is a CT scan ever better than an MRI?

Generally, CT scans are better at spatial resolution, while MRIs are better at contrast resolution.

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Expert alert: Are CT scans safe?

24 related questions found

What does a CT scan show that an MRI does not?

A CT scan is better for showing bone and joint issues, blood clots, and some organ injuries, while an MRI is better for inflammation, torn ligaments, nerve and spinal problems, and soft tissues. Beyond accuracy, patient comfort is also a variable your doctor will keep in mind.

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How many CT scans can you have in a lifetime?

There is no recommended limit on how many computed tomography (CT) scans you can have. CT scans provide critical information. When a severely ill patient has undergone several CT exams, the exams were important for diagnosis and treatment.

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What justifies a CT scan?

In addition to its use in cancer, CT is widely used to help diagnose circulatory (blood) system diseases and conditions, such as coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), blood vessel aneurysms, and blood clots; spinal conditions; kidney and bladder stones; abscesses; inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis ...

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Do all tumors show up on CT scans?

While CT provides much more detail of damage and disease of internal organs, bones and blood vessels than some other imaging technologies, it can't show everything. Some types of cancer, for example, prostate cancer, uterine cancer and some liver cancers, may be harder to image using computed tomography.

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What is the most common reason for a CT scan?

Chronic back pain or an injury to the spine are among the most common reasons to have a CT scan. A doctor may also order a spinal CT scan to: Evaluate spinal fractures. Assess the condition of the spine before and after surgical procedures.

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What is better than a CT scan?

MRI scans are generally considered as providing more accurate imagery and are therefore used for diagnosing conditions associated with your bones, organs or joints. CT scans are often used to identify any bone fractures, tumours, or internal bleeding. Reasons for getting an MRI scan could include: torn ligaments.

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Can you trust a CT scan?

CT scans can produce false negatives and false positives. CT scan can miss cancer, or miss tumors in other areas of the body. CT scans are proven to be less effective at diagnosing cancer than PET/CT.

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How long does a CT scan take?

Typically a CT scan appointment will last approximately 15 minutes. For a CT scan with oral contrast, it could take up to 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you are receiving CT scan IV contrast, do not eat or drink 4 hours prior your exam.

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How long does radiation stay in your body after a CT scan?

Does any radiation stay in the body after an imaging exam? After a radiographic, fluoroscopic, CT, ultrasound, or MRI exam, no radiation remains in your body. For nuclear medicine imaging, a small amount of radiation can stay in the body for a short time.

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Why do I feel sick after a CT scan?

A second set of scans will be taken after the contrast dye has been given. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. These effects include a warm, flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea.

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How long do you wait for results of CT scan?

Usually the radiologist will send a report to your GP or the doctor who referred you for the CT scan. It can take several days, or even a week or two, for your results to come through.

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What cancers does a CT scan not detect?

Where MRI really excels is showing certain diseases that a CT scan cannot detect. Some cancers, such as prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and certain liver cancers, are pretty much invisible or very hard to detect on a CT scan.

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Do cancerous lymph nodes show up on CT scan?

A CT scan might show which lymph nodes are enlarged and may be affected by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A CT scan is a test that uses x-rays and a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It takes pictures from different angles. The computer puts them together to make a 3 dimensional (3D) image.

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How accurate are CT scans for tumors?

CT scans are an excellent way to examine the extent of a potential tumour's shape, size and location. CT scans can even show the blood vessels that are feeding the tumour so they are very accurate.

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Is there anything I shouldn't do before a CT scan?

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours before your scan, especially if a contrast material will be used in your exam. You should inform your physician of any medications you are taking and if you have any allergies, especially to contrast materials.

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What's the difference between a CAT scan and a CT scan?

CAT stands for “computed axial tomography” and CT is simply “computed tomography.” CAT scan was the first of the two terms to be used; CT scan has become more common in recent years. These two procedures are the same, though.

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Is CT scan lifetime risk?

The typical CT radiation dose is 10 to 20 millisieverts (mSv), which is associated with a lifetime risk of fatal cancer of approximately one per 2,000 CT scans.

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What are the side effects of CT scan radiation?

The low doses of radiation used in CT scans have not been shown to cause long-term harm, although at much higher doses, there may be a small increase in your potential risk of cancer. CT scans have many benefits that outweigh any small potential risk.

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Is 1 CT scan a year safe?

It depends on your age, gender, and the part of your body that's being scanned. Overall, your odds are very low -- the chance of getting a fatal cancer from any one CT scan is about 1 in 2,000. Some organs are more sensitive to radiation than others.

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