Have you ever been in such a predicament, when you want to have a CT examination, there are always people who mysteriously whisper a warning: "CT has radiation, it can cause cancer!" 60-year-old Uncle Liu was deeply disturbed.

He had a 30-year history of smoking and coughed incessantly, from occasional coughs to sleepless nights. He was eager to have a CT scan to confirm whether he had lung cancer, but his partner blocked it, insisting that the CT scan would cause cancer because of its high radiation.

At first, Uncle Liu didn't care, but when he saw a lot of articles on the Internet about CT carcinogenesis, he had doubts in his heart. So, how much radiation is there in CT? Does frequent CT examination really cause cancer? In the face of Uncle Liu's doubts, let's unveil the mystery of CT.

CT, short for computed tomography, is a medical imaging technology that uses X-ray beams to scan a part of the human body. In CT scanning, X-rays are electromagnetic waves with penetrating power and energy, and although their wavelength is shorter than that of visible light, they have powerful energy. However, X-rays are also a type of radiation and carry a certain risk of causing cancer.

What is CT?

What is the sacredness of CT, a term that is often mentioned in the mouths of the public? Is it really as high as people fear, and frequent examination can cause cancer? Let's demystify it together.

CT scan, or Computed Tomography, is a type of examination that uses X-rays and detectors to scan a certain part of the human body with a tomography.

It is like a skilled chef who delicately cuts the human body into slices and carefully examines the state of each slice. The thickness of this slice is less than 1mm, which shows the high degree of fineness.

There are two main types of CT scans: noncontrast CT and CT contrast-enhanced scans. A non-contrast CT scan is like an ordinary X-ray that requires no special processing and can be completed in a matter of seconds.

CT scans, on the other hand, require intravenous injection of iodine contrast medium to make the lesion more visible in the image. However, it should be noted that a small number of people will have allergic reactions to iodine contrast media, so this group of people needs to choose CT contrast scan with caution.

In fact, the principle of CT examination is that X-rays penetrate the human body in layers, and then the computer calculates and re-imprints.

Although the radiation dose of CT examination is basically tens or even 100 times that of X-rays, the radiation dose varies depending on the performance, clarity and scanning site of the machine. However, please rest assured that the radiation dose for CT scans is currently within safe limits. So when you need a CT scan, don't be too nervous.

In general, the application of science and technology is to better serve our lives and health. As an important medical imaging technology, CT examination has a certain amount of radiation, but it is within a safe range. When we need to have a CT scan, we should trust the doctor's professional judgment and not worry too much.

A study surveyed 940,000 people: an extra CT scan increases the risk of cancer by 43%

Don't do CT unless necessary! The study, which surveyed 940,000 people, found that the risk of cancer increased by 43% for each additional CT scan. Although CT scan is a diagnostic artifact, the harm of radiation should not be underestimated.

The amount of radiation goes hand in hand with the risk of hematologic malignancies, and an increase of 100 mGy can increase the risk by 96%, which is staggering. The study has been published in the journal Nature Medicine.

It should be used with caution in clinical practice, choosing a low-dose regimen or alternative tests. Strengthen public education and inform them of risks and precautions. The 7-8 year survey followed more than 940,000 adolescents who underwent CT scans before the age of 22 and found 790 cases of blood malignancies, including malignant lymphoma, myeloid malignancies and leukemia.

For every dose of radiation exceeding 50 mGy, the risk is doubled, and children are more sensitive. For every 100 mGy increase in radiation dose, the risk increases by 101%. Even as low as 10-15 mGy, the risk is still rising.

The risk of blood malignancy increased by 1.43 times with each increase in the number of CT scans, and the risk of malignant lymphoma, myeloid malignant tumor and acute leukemia increased. The cumulative effect of radiation should not be underestimated, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons, avoid unnecessary CT scans, and be vigilant against the harm of low-dose radiation.

How harmful is CT radiation to the human body?

CT radiation is a type of X-ray examination, which has a certain radiation damage to the human body. The degree of harm caused by CT radiation depends on several factors, including radiation dose, duration of exposure, individual differences, etc. Generally speaking, the hazards of CT radiation mainly include the following aspects:

1. Skin damage: CT radiation exposure can cause skin burns, pigmentation, skin aging and other problems.

2. Eye damage: High doses of CT radiation exposure can cause damage to the eyes, resulting in symptoms such as vision loss, eye pain, and eye fatigue.

3. Damage to internal organs: Long-term or high-dose CT radiation exposure may cause damage to internal organs and affect organ function.

4. Immune system damage: CT radiation exposure can lead to a weakened immune system, increasing the risk of infection and disease.

5. Risk of cancer: CT radiation exposure may increase the risk of cancer, especially for sensitive populations such as children and adolescents.

Therefore, when performing CT scans, one should follow your doctor's advice and avoid unnecessary CT scans, especially for sensitive groups such as children and pregnant women.

If you need to perform a CT scan, you should choose a regular hospital and a professional doctor to ensure the safety and accuracy of the examination. At the same time, care should be taken to protect sensitive areas such as skin and eyes before and after the examination to reduce the harm of radiation.

Who tries not to have a CT?

When considering who should avoid a CT scan as much as possible, we need to first understand how the CT scan works and its potential risks. CT, or computed tomography, is an X-ray examination technique that creates detailed images of the body through X-ray scans from multiple angles.

However, since a CT scan involves ionizing radiation, it has the potential to cause harm to the human body. Especially for those who are at higher risk, CT scans need to be performed with special caution.

pregnant woman

Pregnant women are a group that requires special attention. The radiation released by CT scans can cause serious harm to the fetus, including birth defects and genetic disorders. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid CT scans in any case.

child

Children grow and develop at stages that make them more sensitive to radiation exposure. In addition, children often need to undergo more CT scans, which increases their risk of exposure to radiation. Therefore, CT scans in children should be avoided as much as possible unless absolutely necessary.

People with genetic diseases and weakened immunity

CT should also be performed with caution in people with known genetic disorders or weakened immune systems. These people are more sensitive to radiation, and CT scans can exacerbate their health problems.

In general, pregnant women, children, and people with genetic disorders or weakened immune systems should avoid CT scans as much as possible.

However, CT may be required in some emergency situations, such as severe trauma or urgent diagnosis. In these cases, doctors should weigh the risks and benefits and minimize radiation exposure.

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