Is It Safe for My Child to Have X-rays? Understanding Radiation in Medical Imaging
Medical imaging, including x-rays, plays a critical role in diagnosing and treating your child’s health conditions. While radiation is used in many types of imaging, it’s important to understand the risks and benefits, especially when it comes to your child.
What You Need to Know About Radiation in Imaging
Radiation from diagnostic imaging, such as x-rays, CT scans, and fluoroscopy, helps doctors diagnose conditions accurately. It’s important to note that radiation is part of our everyday environment, known as natural background radiation. The radiation from most imaging exams is small and generally comparable to this natural exposure.
Imaging Types Involving Radiation:
- X-rays (e.g., chest x-rays)
- Fluoroscopy (live x-ray used during procedures like GI exams)
- CT scans (cross-sectional images of the body)
- Nuclear medicine (uses small amounts of radioactive material)
Imaging Without Radiation:
- Ultrasound (uses sound waves)
- MRI (uses magnetic fields and radio waves)
Are There Risks Associated with Radiation?
While high doses of radiation can cause temporary effects, such as skin burns, these are extremely rare. A more common concern is whether radiation from routine imaging could increase the risk of cancer. Current evidence shows that the low doses used in medical imaging are unlikely to cause harm, but studies of large populations exposed to high radiation doses have shown a slight increase in cancer risk.
Balancing Benefits and Risks: Key Questions to Ask Your Doctor
When considering an imaging test, it’s essential to weigh the benefits against the potential risks, no matter how small:
- Is the imaging test necessary?
If the test is medically needed, the benefit will generally outweigh the risk. - Can previous tests be used instead?
Make sure your doctor knows about any past imaging tests your child has had to avoid unnecessary repeats. - Are there alternative imaging methods?
Ask if an ultrasound or MRI, which do not use radiation, could provide the same information. - Is the facility experienced in pediatric imaging?
Children require tailored exams based on their size and weight for safer, more accurate results.
Radiation Safety: One Size Does Not Fit All
Radiation exposure should always be adjusted based on a child’s age, size, and medical needs. This principle is a core part of the Image Gently® campaign, which promotes radiation safety in pediatric imaging.
Choosing the Right Facility
Ensure that the imaging facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Accreditation confirms that the facility meets high standards for image quality, radiation safety, and continuous oversight by a medical physicist.
