Really guilty about CT-Scan

I think he will be fine...really, it is one isolated incident and most likely will have zero impact on his health later in life. Radiation is a tricky thing, and not even nearly the death sentence a lot of people imagine. There are plenty of folks who have had exposures high enough to have resulted in radiation sickness, yet did not develop any tumors later in life. Some do, but some people develop tumors without having been exposed to much more than ordinary background radiation.

I think, more than passing gamma exposure, the introduction of radionuclides into body tissue via ingestion or respiration is far more likely to cause long term ill effects than an isolated, fairly low dose exposure. So, if I were you, I would take it easy on myself and be glad that my son is OK, even if the test did turn out to be unnecessary. I went through the same appendicitis scare as a kid.

I should add a disclaimer -- I am not a doctor, nor am I a nuclear physicist.

 

Talking as a physician, you are correct that any treatment/diagnostic procedure has some risk. People may develop cancer from radiation therapy, get lung fibrosis from chemo, and die during surgery. However, a CT scan has minimal risk. Don't sweat it.

What you have to do is look at the risk/reward. The risk from one CT scan is minimal, but the complications from a perforated appendix are great.

 

I'm 56 years old and have had my body zapped by X-rays, CT scans, and MRI with no cancer issues. I'm sure the machines today are a lot safer then when I was a kid, and having numerous broken bones throughout my life, I got xrayed at a young age. Cancer runs in my family, and so far I'm still fine. Being an active kid will result in visits to the hospital, it did for me, and you will probably experience the same think. I'm not saying that too many would not hurt you in the long run, but think about the flip side, if something was seriously wrong with your child, and you did nothing. If an X-ray at a young age is the worse that ever happens to your child, consider yourself the luckiest man alive.

 

I am a radiologist and chairman of my department so I understand radiation physics extremely well.

While I understand your fears and apprehension about getting CT scans, I can assure you the amount of radiation a child or adult gets from a scan is far less than the radiation one gets while getting on a plane and flying across the country. If the radiation exposure from medical xrays was far greater than its benefits then everyone would end up going to surgery in each instance. After reading the posts, you made the right choice. As a father of four, I would not have hesitated to get the CT scan right off the bat since I know that most of the time the plain xrays, ultrasounds don't provide as much information as one CT scan. In my mind, I would rather have gotten the Ct scan and gotten a diagnosis then waste time.

Don't beat yourself up over this, I'm sure you will face other xrays or other types of scans in the future as kids are kids and they will have future traumas. As parents its our daily stress tests!

 

yes..

 

No, those who couldn't be bothered with basic math, science and logic at a certain age yet managed to become journalists, politicians, unaccountable bureaucrats and agenda driven teachers are the ones who blow this and many other issues way out of proportion.

You did the right thing by taking advantage of that incredible tech, making sure that your son wasn't dealing with a far more serious condition.

 

One CT has minimal risk, but appendicitis can kill. You did the right thing.

 

Having watched a friend's son who had a ruptured appendix (because no one suspected appendicitis), I wouldn't hesitate to have my child scanned. Poor guy had two further surgeries for adhesions and bowel obstruction and at least one further hospitalization that didn't lead to surgery. And he had MULTIPLE xrays during those stays that could have been prevented by an initial CT scan.

 

What a good dad keep it up man! I am sure its nothing to worry about, but good to see someone who cares that much!

 

I believe there was a study done that more radiation is transmitted taking 5 airline flights compared to one ct scan. I need to dig that up and post it. I wouldn't worry about the ct scan.

 

It was actually frying eggs that they were claiming represented your brain, wasn't it? I like fried eggs!

 

I know exactly what you are saying. My son was two years old when he had 2 CT's of the abdomen, one with and one without contrast. I am in the medical field and didn't even question the radiation. The tests ended up being unnecessary. I have felt horrible for years now (my son is now 7) for not asking more about risks/radiation. I have talked to several radiologists at this point, and they all have told me the risk is very small. That has definitely helped ease my fears, although sometimes, I can't help but feel guilty.

 

My wife would feel the same. I'll tell you what I would tell her. You have to make hard choices for your children. It's our job. And like any of us, you did your very best, weighed the evidence, and made the best decision you could make. The outcome was the best possible. I'm glad your son is fine.

 

What you did was a preventative measure and you should not feel guilty for that. Better safe than sorry. FWIW, since my bout with cancer 12 years ago, I routinely get a chest x-ray and an ultrasound every single year and I'm not the least bit concerned with over exposure... Having said that, I used to feel the same way with the way my son was medicated over and over for ear infections as a baby... You're doing your job as a parent and you seem dedicated to your boy, so don't beat yourelf up over a CT scan.

Cheers

 

Nutritionist wife says get him lots of antioxidants.

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Are CTs always used when appendicitis is suspected? Were there no physical exam signs like tender belly over rt lower area. Fever, diarrhea, etc. How dangerous is it for a kid not really sick with a vague belly ache? Just asking. Are you over reacting by going to the ER in the first place? Once you are there the docs may feel obligated to do all testing just to cover their asses.

 

Are you really a doctor ? A ct scan means a lot more than flying across the country. It is about 2 msv for a CT scan, that represents many flights !

 

How would you have felt if you hadn't done the scan and he wound up with a ruptured appendix?

You did the right thing.

 

I'm not a doctor but I have been involved in the field through my family. A CT scan should always be the last option, and doing a CT scan for a suspected case of appendicitis is a bit extreme.

This thread is old. To the OP, don't worry about it. Simply, reject any further CTs unless the doctor really insists, and ideally get a second opinion. Tell your kid that, when he is an adult, to reject CT scans unless absolutely neccesary. I'm telling you because I personally know about this and had a massive arguement with a doctor who wanted to do a CT scan that was totally unneeded.

Doctors like to CT scan for just about anything. Always last option, always!