The Risks of Overusing CT Scans
The Atlantic recently published an insightful article about the risks of overusing CT scans. They’re linked to higher rates of cancer — and they’re medically unnecessary in up to 50 percent of cases — but health experts are having a hard time curbing their use. Radiation is a major consideration when performing these procedures. Radiation doses are cumulative over a lifetime.
I think it's very important a patient knows his/her procedure should be done with the lowest possible use of radiation. There's a wide discrepancy between radiation used by physicians in the cath lab, which is why it's extremely important for patients to choose the right doctor.
Click here to read the full article.
James A.M. Smith, DO, is board certified by the American Board of Vascular Medicine and the American College of Osteopathic Internists. He practices cardiovascular medicine and intervention at Kansas Vascular Medicine.
