suzizack
08-09-2006, 05:08 PM
Just some information for those interested in medical/health issues .
!!Keep in mind .. I am a lowly technologist and know nothing. Always Always seek advice from your health care advisor/provider..!!
With the new advent of multi slice CT(CAT) scanners (ranges from 8 to 64 slice CT scanners) , come higher radiation doses.IT is possible Some clinicians(such as family dr, and even some specialists) do not realize,or simply have not contemplated the increased radiation dose from multi slice (64 slice) CT scanners.
They are wonderful tools-CT scanners, but one needs to keep in mind the increase radiation factor of the newer multi slice machines.
If one Needs a CT , then of course go for it.
CT scans can diagnose disease, tumors,trauma etc. beautifully and are Very worthwhile..
I hear CT techs voicing concern about the exposure increase to patients with the 64 slice.
While it is not ethical/ or politic for a technologist to "educate" a dr.. doctors need to be made aware of this . We as techs must tread very lightly with drs. at times. Radiologists (drs) might hestitate to inform patients drs, as it may seem the rad is trying to countermand the pts dr. .
It is a twisted, tricky, lawsuit happy road we travel in health care now days.
One more thing to consider is MRA (magnetic resonance angiography).. it uses the MRI machine, but scans differently with a higher dose of contrast media (some call it dye).
The contrast is gadolinum (shortened name we techs use) not iodine as in CT or xray.
The FDA has issued a cautionary statement.
If a patient has renal failure or insufficiency, MRA ( higher dose of contrast) may cause some problems for the pt.
This can be found on the fda/gov website and search under MRA or gadolinium .
MRA is also a great tool , helps with diagnosis, etc.. Only people with renal (kidney ) failure, insufficiency are part of the ongoing concern . General public ,healthy renal function, need not worry according to the study.
I just wanted to bring this to your attention as I feel responsible as a tech to educate/protect patients. But .. as a tech I have to be very very careful not to cross over into dr. territory ! ethics vs egos can collide.
Keep in mind .. I am a lowly technologist and know nothing. Always Always seek advice from your health care advisor/provider..
If you are interested in radiation exposure facts, I am sure a google search would work.
I am not a radiation physicist so cannot tell you how many rads you'd get from CT chest and abdomen done with a 64 slice scanner. Multiple exams on the same patient --- increase the exposure.
!!Keep in mind .. I am a lowly technologist and know nothing. Always Always seek advice from your health care advisor/provider..!!
With the new advent of multi slice CT(CAT) scanners (ranges from 8 to 64 slice CT scanners) , come higher radiation doses.IT is possible Some clinicians(such as family dr, and even some specialists) do not realize,or simply have not contemplated the increased radiation dose from multi slice (64 slice) CT scanners.
They are wonderful tools-CT scanners, but one needs to keep in mind the increase radiation factor of the newer multi slice machines.
If one Needs a CT , then of course go for it.
CT scans can diagnose disease, tumors,trauma etc. beautifully and are Very worthwhile..
I hear CT techs voicing concern about the exposure increase to patients with the 64 slice.
While it is not ethical/ or politic for a technologist to "educate" a dr.. doctors need to be made aware of this . We as techs must tread very lightly with drs. at times. Radiologists (drs) might hestitate to inform patients drs, as it may seem the rad is trying to countermand the pts dr. .
It is a twisted, tricky, lawsuit happy road we travel in health care now days.
One more thing to consider is MRA (magnetic resonance angiography).. it uses the MRI machine, but scans differently with a higher dose of contrast media (some call it dye).
The contrast is gadolinum (shortened name we techs use) not iodine as in CT or xray.
The FDA has issued a cautionary statement.
If a patient has renal failure or insufficiency, MRA ( higher dose of contrast) may cause some problems for the pt.
This can be found on the fda/gov website and search under MRA or gadolinium .
MRA is also a great tool , helps with diagnosis, etc.. Only people with renal (kidney ) failure, insufficiency are part of the ongoing concern . General public ,healthy renal function, need not worry according to the study.
I just wanted to bring this to your attention as I feel responsible as a tech to educate/protect patients. But .. as a tech I have to be very very careful not to cross over into dr. territory ! ethics vs egos can collide.
Keep in mind .. I am a lowly technologist and know nothing. Always Always seek advice from your health care advisor/provider..
If you are interested in radiation exposure facts, I am sure a google search would work.
I am not a radiation physicist so cannot tell you how many rads you'd get from CT chest and abdomen done with a 64 slice scanner. Multiple exams on the same patient --- increase the exposure.