Children and CT Concerns

It’s estimated 6-percent of all pediatric visits to the emergency room are stomach-pain related. Ruling out conditions like appendicitis can include the use of high-tech tools.

In a new study, just published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers gathered E.R. data over a ten-year period between 1998 and 2008 for patients age 19 and under.

In 1998, fewer than 1-percent of the pediatric patients were scanned with CT or computed tomography – to evaluate abdominal pain. 10 years later, the rate of CT use rose to 15.4 percent.

CT scanning combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or photos of the inside of the body. These scans provide clearer, more revealing views of organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels than easy x-rays, but there has been concern over radiation exposure especially in children.

This past May, the Food and Drug administration asked the makers of these devices to factor in the safety of pediatric patients when using existing machines or designing news ones. As always, speak to your physician about any concerns you may have about CT scans and other medical tests.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news to keep your family healthy.

Related News:

• Astellas, Ambit announce results from quizartinib Phase 2 study on acute myeloid leukemia
• Impact of Medicaid expansion would vary by state, according to study
• Antidepressant eases radiation-related mouth pain in head, neck cancer
• Study: More Birth Defects with In Vitro
• Antidepressants and Stroke
• Vaccine Safety
• Study: Hint of Benefit for Alzheimer’s Drug
• Study provides direct evidence for persistent activity in medial entorhinal cortex layer neurons
• Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Increase Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
• Superior Cancer Screening?

Details :
Submited at Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at 12:15 am on Uncategorized by robert
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback