“Is my son getting too many x-rays?”
So far to identify his stomach pain, my son had 3 x-rays on separate occasions in the past year. I feel like this is too many, and I'm worried about the exposure to radiation. Do you think 3 is a lot?
2 Answers
It is always important to evaluate risk versus benefit with any ionizing radiation. When you say 3 X-rays of the abdomen in a year I am assuming you mean abdominal series. The approximate dose for a 3 view abdominal series is 53 mrem or .53 mSv. Three abdominal series in a year would be 159 mrem or 1.59 mSv. This is 1/2 of the annual natural background radiation we all receive in a year, which is 300 mrem. This would not be considered a harmful dose in this perspective.
Clearly all exams should be performed with caution and dose minimizing techniques. Exams should be indicated. When possible US or MRI can be used in children rather than ionizing radiation. A CT abdomen and pelvis has approximately 1000 mrem or 10 mSv dose. This is 3 times the natural annual background radiation dose. CT in children should be used judiciously and performed with the lowest possible dose that will still provide a diagnostic exam and answer the clinical question.
Clearly all exams should be performed with caution and dose minimizing techniques. Exams should be indicated. When possible US or MRI can be used in children rather than ionizing radiation. A CT abdomen and pelvis has approximately 1000 mrem or 10 mSv dose. This is 3 times the natural annual background radiation dose. CT in children should be used judiciously and performed with the lowest possible dose that will still provide a diagnostic exam and answer the clinical question.
No.
