Advanced Computed Tomography scanning equipment helps reduce patients' radiation exposure, a new research shows.
Study conducted on 2,085 patients at nine centers in the U.S. and the Middle East found that the latest, dual sourced CT scanners reduced radiation exposure in patients. Researchers also compared its effects with the first generation, 64-slice, single-source scanners or first generation dual-source CT scanners.
Researchers at the Beaumont Health System explain that the advanced CT scanner reduced the radiation exposure in patients by 61 percent. Moreover, the image quality for patients having CT scans for coronary artery disease, pulmonary embolism or aortic disease, remained the same and was not affected by the newest technology.
"Newer technology makes a difference in terms of radiation exposure and the difference is quite large," study author Kavitha Chinnaiyan, M.D., director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging Research at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, said in a press release. "It is important for patients to ask questions when referred for a radiation-based test to understand what the procedure involves and what the risks are of the particular technique and if there are alternative imaging choices."
The research teams said that the study findings have important implications for referring physicians.
According to Dr Chinnaiyan, clinicians must realise that imaging studies have radiation exposure as well as overall health care costs on the patients.
"Incidental findings may require further imaging studies with other radiation-based tests. In addition to choosing patients appropriately, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits of testing with patients, and to refer them to centers that offer newer technologies," she explained.
The study was published by Beaumont Health System research in the 'Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography'.
