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Advice to parents about children and medical radiation

The American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America has more about children and CT scans.

Parents Can Help Limit Kids’ Exposure to Medical Imaging, Health Day, July 19, 2010 Before agreeing to an imaging examination for a child, Pavlov advises parents to keep the following points in mind:

  • Ask what the doctor believes is the problem and whether it’s possible to use a non-ionizing radiation imaging method such as MRI or ultrasound for diagnosis.
  • Ensure that the radiation technologist shields the child and confines the areas being exposed to ionizing radiation.
  • Ask if the technique being used has been adjusted to the size of the child.
  • Ask about “repeat rates” — that is, how often an image needs to be repeated because of excessive motion, incorrect positioning or improper technique. If a hospital’s repeat rate is high, parents may want to consider a different imaging center for their child’s examination, Pavlov suggested.
  • It’s also a good idea for parents to ask how many children undergo medical imaging tests at a facility. The higher the percentage of children, the more experience the imaging team has in achieving a correct image on the first attempt.

More information

The American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America has more about children and CT scans.

Parents Can Help Limit Kids’ Exposure to Medical Imaging – US News and World Report

July 20, 2010 - Posted by | general | , ,

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