Subject Children With Head Injuries to CT Scans Only When Necessary

A recent insight has revealed that most children with head injuries are subject to CT scans, which increase the risk of radiation. Most of the child victims of head injury undergo CT scans, without even ascertaining if the scan was absolutely necessary, mostly to allay the fears of parents.

The first step to take when a child is admitted with head injury is to keep the child under strict observation between four and six hours.

Dr Lise Nigrovic of Children's Hospital Boston, team leader of the study said, “CT isn't bad if you really need, but you don't want to use it in children who are at low risk for having a significant injury. For parents, this means spending a couple of extra hours in the emergency department in exchange for not getting a CT. It’s the children in the middle risk groups – those who don't appear totally normal, but whose injury isn't obviously severe – for whom observation can really help.”

Due to the elevated risk of cancer due to radiation, a little caution with CT scans can help offset long-term risk of cancer.



Source-Medindia