Radiation Dangers:

When diagnostic scans are necessary, we should be aware of the amount of ionizing radiation that we will absorb. The average amount of ionizing radiation we all receive on a daily basis is about 300 millirems (mrems). This background radiation is from inescapabe sources and is normal.

There are several types of ionizing radiation emitting scans that are used for diagnosis. These scans will vary in the amount of radiation absorbed for each type of use.

Some Of The Major Types Of Radiation Emitting Scans Are Listed Below:

CT (Computed Tomography) Scan is a special kind of X-ray machine. Instead of sending out a single X-ray through your body as with ordinary X-rays, several beams are sent simultaneously from different angles. The CT scanner was originally designed to take pictures of the brain. Now it is much more advanced and is used for taking pictures of virtually any part of the body. The Dose of radiation is much greater than standard X-Rays. However, the amount of radiation varies with each area of the body to be scanned.
DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absortiometry) Scans or DEXA scanning, is currently the most widely used method to measure bone mineral density. The scanner rapidly directs x-ray energy from two different sources towards the bone being examined in an alternating fashion at a set frequency. The mineral density of the patient's bone weakens, or prolongs the transmission of these two sources of x-ray energy through a filter onto a counter in a degree related to the amount of bone mass present. The radiation from DEXA is not retained in the body and has no harmful effects.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scans do not utilize ionizing radiation and provides much of the same information that CT scans do. MRI is more expensive than CT scanning. MRI provides an unparalleled view inside the human body. The level of detail we can see is extraordinary compared with any other imaging modality. MRI is the method of choice for the diagnosis of many types of injuries and conditions because of the incredible ability to tailor the exam to the particular medical question being asked.
MRS-I (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging ) Scans do not utilize ionizing radiation and provides much of the same information that CT scans do. MRS-I is more expensive than CT scanning. However, the scan sees more clearly than the MRI. It is also able to detect metabolic abnormalities associated with cancer cells and therefore can distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan is a powerful imaging technique that holds great promise in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, particularly cancer. A non-invasive test, PET scans accurately image the cellular function of the human body. In a single PET scan your physician can examine your entire body. PET scanning provides a more complete picture, making it easier for your doctor to diagnose problems, determine the extent of disease, prescribe treatment, and track progress. The radiation from a PET SCAN is about the same as an X-RAY. However, the amount of radiation varies with each area of the body to be scanned.
X-Rays are known to cause instability in our genetic material, which is usually the central characteristic of most aggressive cancers. Even the weakest doses of x-rays can cause cellular damage that cannot be repaired. There is strong epidemiological evidence that x-rays are a known cause of almost every type of human cancer.

CT SCAN Information: What is a CT SCAN?

DEXA SCAN Information: What is a DEXA SCAN?

PET SCAN Information: What is a PET SCAN?

X-RAY Information: What is an X-RAY?

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