May 7, 2024 · Radiation exposure. During a CT scan, you're briefly exposed to a type of energy called ionizing radiation. The amount of radiation is greater than the amount from a plain X-ray because the CT scan gathers more-detailed information. The low doses of radiation used in CT scans have not been shown to cause long-term harm.

Feb 13, 2024 · The amount of radiation absorbed by the body, called the absorbed dose, determines how bad the illness will be. Radiation sickness also is called acute radiation syndrome or radiation poisoning. Radiation sickness is not caused by common medical imaging tests that use low-dose radiation, such as X-rays, CT scans and nuclear medicine scans.

Jan 5, 2024 · A SPECT scan is a type of imaging test that uses a radioactive substance and a special camera to create 3D pictures. This test is also known as single-photon emission computerized tomography. While many imaging tests show what the internal organs look like, a SPECT scan can show how well the organs are working.

Feb 7, 2024 · The amount of radiation you're exposed to during an LDCT is much less than that of a standard CT scan. It's equal to about half the radiation you're exposed to naturally from the environment in a year. Undergoing follow-up tests. If your scan shows a suspicious spot in one of your lungs, you may need to undergo additional scans, which expose ...

PET plus CT. Combining a PET scan with an MRI or CT scan can help make the images easier to interpret. At left is a CT scan, while the center image is a PET scan. The image on the right is a combined PET-CT scan. The bright spot in the chest, seen best on …

Jun 11, 2024 · A CT coronary angiogram exposes you to radiation. The amount varies depending on the type of machine used. If you're pregnant or you may be pregnant, you ideally should not have a CT angiogram. There's a risk that the radiation may harm an unborn child. But some people with serious health conditions may need CT imaging during pregnancy.

Jul 6, 2023 · Virtual colonoscopy uses a small amount of radiation to make the pictures of your colon and rectum. Health care providers use the lowest amount of radiation possible to take a clear picture. This is about the same as the amount of natural radiation you might be exposed to in two years, and much less than the amount used for a regular CT scan.

Jan 10, 2025 · Radiation to the entire breast. One of the most common types of radiation therapy after a lumpectomy is external beam radiation of the whole breast (whole-breast irradiation). Radiation to part of the breast. Radiation therapy to part of the breast (partial-breast irradiation) may be an option for some early-stage breast cancers.

A single CT urogram carries no risk of developing cancer after radiation exposure. But, multiple tests or radiation exposures may cause a slightly increased cancer risk. Typically, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs this risk. Work continues on ways to reduce radiation exposure during a CT urogram test.

Jul 22, 2023 · A coronary calcium scan is a special computerized tomography (CT) scan of the heart. It looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries. A buildup of calcium can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart. A coronary calcium scan may show coronary artery disease before you have symptoms.