Alternatives

There are numerous safer

alternatives that release a lower

dosage of radiation, such as

magnetic resonance imaging

(MRI), cranial ultrasounds, and

transcranial doppler ultrasound.

CT SCANS
THE EFFECTS OF CT
. RADIATION
MRIs also have the ability to detect

signs of injury such as minute bleeding

(microhemorrhage), small areas of

How harmful? bruising (contusion) or scarring (gliosis),

which are invisible to the CT scans

CT scans use 100-500 times higher

radiation exposure than the average

test machine, equivalent to the

amount of radiation Japanese

citizens experienced during the

atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.

Scientists at Stanford University,

School of Medicine, have Through the use of sounds waves,

discovered that cellular damage cranial ultrasounds are able to generate

can be seen in patients after CT clear images of the brain and

scanning. Patricia Nguyen, M.D, one cerebrospinal fluid

of the lead authors of the study

claimed even exposure to small

amounts of radiation can result in

cellular damage. As patients are

constantly exposed to low-dose

radiation during CT scans, X-ray

beams can ultimately damage DNA

and result in mutations that causes

cells to grow into tumors.

 The Brain
The brain is a delicate, soft,
gelatinous structure hidden inside
the skull. When there is a forceful
impact directly to the brain,
certain areas are affected,
causing a traumatic brain injury
(TBI). The most common way
involves a fall, which may result in
simple skull fractures and epidural
hematomas. Symptoms of brain
injury include loss of
consciousness, vomiting, seizures,
and brain bleed.
What are CT Scans?
Computed tomography scans
incorporate a combination of x-rays
images in order to provide a detailed
view of the brain. CT scans allow
doctors to analyze different features of
your face, sinuses, and skull in order to
evaluate damages of bones and soft
tissues caused by the head trauma,
detect diseases that may be developing
THE PROCESS
in specific regions of the brain, pinpoint
inflamed areas of the paranasal sinuses,
etc.
Generally during a CT exam,
the procedure will either be
done with contrast, an IV line
or an oral contrast, where
you will be given a liquid
contrast solution to swallow.
As the CT scanner rotates
Although CT scans are extremely beneficial around your body, X-rays will
in severe head trauma cases, its negative pass through the body.
consequences outweighs its benefits . . .