Radiologist recommends MRI rather than CT for liver studies

[Guest guest]

C. Semelka, MD, Director, Magnetic Resonance Services,

Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Radiology, University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has written a CME course titled

" Imaging X-rays Cause Cancer: A Call to Action for Caregivers and

Patients " (available at:

http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/5063_index), which urges restraint

in the use of X-ray due to the risk of cancer no matter how low the dose.

His message to patients is:

" I believe it is your right to know that radiation exposure from

medical x-rays, in particular procedures utilizing high x-ray doses

(eg, CT, PET, PET-CT), may result in cancer, and it is your right to

request an alternative procedure when that alternative procedure

generates comparable diagnostic information. Providers should know

which alternative imaging modalities provide comparable information

for the medical indication that you have. It is your right, based on

the Hippocratic oath that all physicians have taken, that you undergo

the safest test that has sufficient diagnostic accuracy to evaluate

your condition. I recommend that you refer your provider to the BEIR

VII report regarding radiation hazards,[1] and Abdominal Pelvic

MRI[25] regarding how to perform and interpret MRI studies -- if the

capabilities of MRI are questioned. Liver exams are one study in

particular that should almost always be done with MRI. "

Tim R

[Guest guest]

Radiation exposure is a fairly contentious subject. There are many

studies that show that radiation (up to a fairly undefined point

http://units.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/2001/october/a5oct01.cfm),

is actually beneficial. A full-body CT is about 1000 mRem

(http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/Radiation.ht

ml). The average natural background dose is about 300 mRem (which is

about the same as what x-ray technicians receive/year). A mammogram

can range from 70-700 mRem.

Not to be taken lightly to be sure, but as in all things, a balance

between risk and benefit. In the case of liver imaging, I personally

think MRI is a better tool (and I'll take a colonoscopy over a barium

enema ANY day)!

Arne

55 - UC 1977, PSC 2000

Alive and (mostly) well in Minnesota

________________________________

From: [mailto:psc-

support ] On Behalf Of Tim Romlein

C. Semelka, MD, Director, Magnetic Resonance Services,

(available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/5063_index which

urges restraint in the use of X-ray due to the risk of cancer no

matter how low the dose.

His message to patients is:

" I believe it is your right to know that radiation exposure from

medical x-rays, in particular procedures utilizing high x-ray doses

(eg, CT, PET, PET-CT), may result in cancer, and it is your right to

request an alternative procedure when that alternative procedure

generates comparable diagnostic information...