Is radiation imaging right for you? Talk to your doctor.

By William J. Osheroff, M.D., Vice President & Chief Medical Director, Medical Management, HMSA

Radiation serves many important functions in health care. It’s one of the best ways to detect and treat certain diseases and injuries in a quick, painless, and non-invasive way. But this type of medical imaging has its risks, too. Studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of radiation may have an increased risk of cancer.

While imaging procedures that use radiation are sometimes necessary, they should be limited whenever possible. This is especially true for children, who tend to be more sensitive to radiation. If you or your child needs an imaging test, talk to your doctor to be sure that the test is essential and that it is the appropriate test.

There are three common imaging procedures that use radiation: X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and nuclear medicine. During X-rays and CT scans, electromagnetic waves pass through your body to form pictures of internal body masses like bone and soft tissue. The two tests are similar, but CT scans use a higher dose of radiation to capture more distinct images. In nuclear medicine procedures, you are given a small amount of radioactive material to swallow, inject or inhale. A camera detects energy given off by the radioactive material inside your body and forms a picture of its flow and location.  

Fortunately, there are also imaging tests that do not use radiation: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. MRIs use magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues in your body. Ultrasounds, or sonograms, use high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the structures in your body. If your doctor recommends a test that uses radiation, ask if another test could be used instead to collect the same information.

If you need a procedure that requires radiation, there are certain steps you can take to help ensure that your radiation exposure is kept to a minimum. Be sure that the scan will use the lowest dose of radiation possible and that the technician will scan only the affected areas of the body. It’s also a good idea to go to a facility that’s accredited by the American College of Radiology.

Since children’s sensitivity to radiation is higher than adults, a national initiative called Image Gently (www.imagegently.org) was launched in 2008 to educate parents and health care professionals about the need for special precautions for children. Since the campaign was launched, more than 1,000 imaging facilities have taken a pledge to reduce the radiation dose used in pediatric imaging scans.  

It’s important to remember that the benefits of procedures that use radiation may outweigh the risks of side effects. But to keep the possibility of serious side effects as low as possible, talk to your doctor about your risks and options. Once your doctor understands your concerns, you can work together to make the best decision about your health care. For more information on radiation safety, visit HMSA’s website at www.hmsa.com and search for Image Gently.