Benefits and Risks – Abdomen and Pelvis CT Scan

Benefits

Viewing a CT scan, an experienced Radiologist can diagnose many causes of abdominal pain with very high accuracy, enabling faster treatment and often eliminating the need for additional, more invasive diagnostic procedures.
When pain is caused by infection and inflammation, the speed, ease and accuracy of a CT examination can reduce the risk of serious complications such as those caused by a burst appendix or ruptured diverticulum and the subsequent spread of infection.
CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.
Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very detailed images of many types of tissue CT examinations are fast and simple; in emergency cases, they can reveal internal injuries and bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.
CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.
CT is less sensitive to patient movement than MRI.
CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical device of any kind, unlike MRI.
CT imaging provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and needle aspirations of many areas of the body, particularly the lungs, abdomen, pelvis and bones.
A diagnosis determined by CT scanning may eliminate the need for exploratory surgery
No radiation remains in a patient's body after a CT examination.
X-rays used in standard CT scans have no immediate side effects.

There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis will generally outweigh the risk.
The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies.
Women should always inform their physician and x-ray or CT SMIL Technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary because of potential risk to the baby.
The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.