CT scans and cancer risk in children

[Catherine]

A study of Medicare records in Australia show a small increase risk of cancer in children who have received a CT scan before the age of 18.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/scans-of-teens-children-raise-cancer-risk-20130522-2jzrz.html

 

[Farmwife]

Thanks for the study Catherine.
If you don't mind I wanted to ask ........
This question has to do with images of the GI track.
If I understand right, a MRI does not use radiation like a CT scan.
So why use a CT over and MRI? What are the benefits of a CT over an MRE or visa versa?
Sorry Catherine not trying to hijack.:smile:

 

[my little penguin]

MRI - no radiation
Ct radiation.
MRI images are not as clear but still good .
MRI takes over an hour - so some kids need sedated
Which carries its own set of risks including affect on learning later.

Ct very sharp images - less than a minute or two.
Kiddie hospitals have ct scans with much lower radiation levels than adult hospitals .

You are aslo exposed to radiation every day
http://www.nrc.gov/

Lots of info there on levels from TVs phone etc...

 

[Tesscorm]

Are CT machines also more readily available? I know it takes MONTHS to get an MRE here but don't know about CT scan (never had one done...)

 

[Johnnysmom]

My son had his CT scan because of an emergency room visit. I think because the CT is faster and sharper they tend to use it for ER usage but some smaller hospitals only have access to CT's. MRI or MRE is more expensive and takes longer to get access and to get results.

 

[kiny]

It's changing fast, I always ask for MRI. MRI in most hospitals are busy, many many diseases need MRI and people with crohn's disease a few years ago were pushed towards CT somewhat over MRI, but thanks to many people in studies speaking against CT for people with crohn's disease, many hospitals have adopted MRI over CT. I think as a patient or mom or dad you should demand MRI, they're there, the images are just as good if not better on MRI for soft tissue, crohn's disease is a very serious disease, it needs to be available for people with crohn's disease, no questions asked.

 

[Twiggy930]

As Tess said, here in Canada, the CT scans are more readily available. MRI wait lists are LONG. We could demand a MRI but we would still have to wait in line.

I went to a talk a while back where a GI presented some info on a new low-dose CT scanning technique that produced images just as good or better than the regular CT scan and reduced the amount of radiation used.

 

[poppets mum]

If your child had a CT scan in the past would they ever be likely to have one again? Or is it a one time only deal?

 

[xmdmom]

Ditto to what Kiny said. I'd always try to get an MRI over a CT, and a MRE over a CTE if possible. (E=enterography or evaluation of the small intestine).If a doctor were recommending the CT, I'd ask why and if in the particular case, it would be better than an MRI. While the initial cost of CTs are cheaper than MRIs, MREs were recently found to be cost effective in the long run in people under 50 with IBD because of the cancer risk with CTEs. The problem is that many hospitals don't do MREs. My regional hospital doesn't. My son needs to go 1.5 to 2 hours away to get one. While I've seen papers that say MRE are equivalent to CTEs, it all depends on the reader (radiologist or gastroenterologist) as there is interobserver variability with both.

The likelihood of a child having another CT depends on where s/he lives, their specific issues with Crohn's , their doctor's preference and perhaps how vocal their parents are regarding the risk of radiation. In an emergency situation, a CT will likely be done in most hospitals. It is good that some CT machine protocols deliver smaller doses of radiation. It's good to raise the radiation question with the doctor (some don't think about it without prompting while others do) and always try to minimize risk without compromising quality of care.



- a Crohn's mom with insomnia...

 

[DustyKat]

Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh! This is where I stick my fingers in my ears, close my eyes tight and hum my way to happy dream world! :lol:

Matt has had quite a few CT's. I did count them up once and fainted (not really, maybe I was hyperventilating though!) so never did it again!

So when I read things like this I chant...phase 1 CT, phase 1 CT, phase 1 CT...and hope we have dodged a bullet!

Dusty. :eek2:

 

[kiny]

They will replace CT with MRI I think in the future everywhere for CD. Only thing that is still done a lot for crohn's disease is balloon dilation and stents with fluoroscopic control radiation, to position the balloon or stent, which is a lot more radiation than a CT scan. But they're starting to do it without control too for balloon dilation, by just looking through the endoscope. One of the earliest balloon dilations for crohn's disease was done without fluoroscopic control I think. I heard it's just harder to position the balloon, but it's possible.