CTs, MRIs, Ultrasounds: Differences, Risk & Benefits

What is a CT Scan? A machine whirs in an arc around a patient, snapping a rapid-fire series of x-rays from different angles. These x-ray snapshots are combined by a computer to produce virtual cross-section images of the body. These are called CT scans, which stands for computed tomography (computer-generated cross-sectional images). CT Scans Compared to Ultrasounds and MRIs When the CT scan was first introduced in the 1970s it caused something of a revolution in medicine, allowing doctors to see the inner structure of the body in a way that had been previously hidden – without surgery. Parents often wonder which is more effective –a CT Scan, ultrasound, or MRI. Each has its own areas where it is most effective. CT Scan Safety A few months earlier, the National Cancer Institute had sent out a letter to physicians in an effort to decrease unnecessary CT scans in children. In the previous decade, the number of CT scans in children each year had skyrocketed 700 percent — into the millions in the US alone. These CT scans had resulted in improved diagnosis, allowed for more effective treatments, and reduced unnecessary surgeries. But we’ve learned that some of these same benefits might now be achieved with fewer CT scans. And CT scans carry their own risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has continued to look closely at this issue. In June of 2018, the AAP publish recommendations for CT scans that indicated “Clinical observation prior to CT decision-making f...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog CT Scan Safety Top Children's Safety Source Type: blogs