Arkansas Department of Health

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Computed Tomography

Since October 2009, there have been a number of reports regarding CT overexposures to patients nationwide. In the interest of educating the citizens of Arkansas regarding the importance of regulating exposure to ionizing radiation, the following information is provided.

As with all imaging modalities, it is imperative that consumers be informed and involved with their medical practitioner to ensure that exposure to ionizing radiation be limited to that which is absolutely necessary. Particularly for parents of young children, it is recommended that the parent keep a history of all radiological procedures and that medical professionals be made aware of previous studies done, prior to ordering more studies, in an effort to limit unnecessary repeat examinations. In this regard, many informational links are provided below including to the national "Image Gently" Campaign.

Additionally, listed below are other links to news articles and information regarding reports of overexposures during CT Perfusion Studies as well as U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Health Advisories.

DOWNLOADS

Information Notice 09-06

 

RESOURCES

What Parents Should Know

• The Image Gently Campaign
• The Society for Pediatric Radiology
• FDA Consumer Report - Radiology and Children: Extra Care Required
• National Cancer Institute - Radiation Risks and Pediatric Computed Tomography (CT): A Guide for Health Care Providers

What Patients Should Know

• FDA - Computed Tomography (CT)
• The Image Wisely Campaign
• RadiologyInfo 

• FDA - Safety Investigation of CT Brain Perfusion Scans: Initial Notification
• FDA - What are the Radiation Risks from CT?
• FDA - Other Information Resources Related to Whole-Body CT Screening
• FDA - Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging

• Los Angeles Times - Cedars-Sinai investigated for significant radiation overdoses of 206 patients
• AuntMinnie.com - Radiology and Imaging News, Information, Education, and Services

• Society of Interventional Radiology
• The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
• Society for Pediatric Interventional Radiology