CT Scan Radiation Safety: Understanding Risks and Benefits

A single CT (computed tomography) scan is generally safe. There are some health risks associated with the radiation used in these tests, but doctors consider these risks when deciding if a CT is right for an individual patient.

Significance

• During a CT scan, the Mayo Clinic reports that the tested individual is exposed to an amount of radiation much higher than that used in x-rays.

Time Frame

• Although a relatively high amount of radiation is used in a CT scan, the Mayo Clinic reports that exposure to this radiation lasts only a very short time.

Effects

• The radiation from a CT scan could increases a person's risk for developing cancer, but Medline Plus reports that the risk from a single CT scan is very low.

Features

• The risk from the radiation in CT scans increases with the number of CT scans a person goes through, according to Medline Plus.

Considerations

• Pregnant women should not have abdominal CT scans, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus. The risk of performing a CT is weighed against the risk of not performing the test.