Evaluation
The CT image is evaluated by a radiologist. The results are given to the treating physician. CT images, including those of a low-dose CT, have a significantly better resolution than normal X-rays.
Therefore, much more can be recognized and diagnosed on them. However, even here the images are not always 100% clear. For example, a CT image of a lung often makes it impossible to tell with certainty whether it is lung cancer or not. This is because there are also other causes that show up similarly in the lung CT. However, further examinations can then diagnose or rule out a questionable lung cancer
Risks
In a CT, radiation is used, which on the one hand provides good examination results, but on the other hand there are risks due to the ionizing radiation used. This is because radiation has been proven to cause cancer. However, the risk posed by radiation is not a one-time application of a CT, but rather multiple applications.
This is known as the cumulative radiation dose – the amount of radiation that is accumulated during multiple CT examinations. With increasing radiation exposure, the probability of developing various types of cancer increases. Children are more sensitive to radiation and its risks.
With a low-dose CT, the radiation used is lower. The risk of a single examination is low. In addition, CT examinations achieve very good results, which are often decisive for therapy or life-saving.
The importance of each CT examination should be weighed up. The principle should be considered as little as possible, as often as necessary. The additional administration of contrast medium during a CT examination poses additional risks. An allergic reaction may occur.The contrast medium can also damage the kidney.
What is the radiation exposure?
The radiation exposure depends on which part of the body is examined with the CT. A CT of the chest area causes 1-10 millisievert radiation. An X-ray image would only produce 0.01 to 0.1 millisievert. For a low-dose CT, the radiation exposure should be less than 2 millisieverts.
Compared to a standard CT, up to 60% of the radiation dose can be saved. However, people are always exposed to radiation in everyday life as well. The radiation with which one is exposed to natural radiation in one year averages 2.1 millisievert.