Minimization of radiation exposure due to computed tomography in inflammatory bowel disease
Loading...
Files
Date
2012-04
Authors
McLaughlin, Patrick D.
O'Connor, Owen J.
O'Neill, Siobhán B.
Shanahan, Fergus
Maher, Michael M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Published Version
Abstract
Patient awareness and concern regarding the potential health risks from ionizing radiation have peaked recently (Coakley et al., 2011) following widespread press and media coverage of the projected cancer risks from the increasing use of computed tomography (CT) (Berrington et al., 2007). The typical young and educated patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may in particular be conscious of his/her exposure to ionising radiation as a result of diagnostic imaging. Cumulative effective doses (CEDs) in patients with IBD have been reported as being high and are rising, primarily due to the more widespread and repeated use of CT (Desmond et al., 2008). Radiologists, technologists, and referring physicians have a responsibility to firstly counsel their patients accurately regarding the actual risks of ionizing radiation exposure; secondly to limit the use of those imaging modalities which involve ionising radiation to clinical situations where they are likely to change management; thirdly to ensure that a diagnostic quality imaging examination is acquired with lowest possible radiation exposure. In this paper, we synopsize available evidence related to radiation exposure and risk and we report advances in low-dose CT technology and examine the role for alternative imaging modalities such as ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging which avoid radiation exposure.
Description
Keywords
Inflammatory bowel disease , Ionizing radiation , Computed tomography (CT) , Inflammatory bowel disease , IBD , Ultrasonography , Risk
Citation
Mc Laughlin P. D., O'Connor, O. J., O'Neill, S. B., Shanahan F. and Maher, M. M. (2012) 'Minimization of radiation exposure due to computed tomography in inflammatory bowel disease' ISRN Gastroenterology, 790279. http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2012/790279