RADIATION DOSES PER RADIOLOGICAL PROCEDURE

CAT scan Effective radiation dose CT-Abdomen 10 mSv CT-Body 10 mSv CT-Spine 10 mSv CT-Chest 8 mSv CT-Head 2 mSv CT - Heart 2 mSv CT-Sinuses 0.6 mSv   X-rays Effective radiation dose X-ray lower abdomen 4 mSv X-ray upper abdomen 2 mSv Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) 1.6 mSv Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG / MCU) 5-10 yr. old: 1.6 mSv Infant: 0.8 mSv X-ray Chest 0.1 mSv   Other radiological tests Effective radiation dose Myelography 4 mSv Mammography 0.7 mSv Bone Densitometry (DEXA) 0.01 mSv   Effective radiation dose Comparable Natural Background Radiation 10 mSv 3 years 8 mSv 8 months 4 mSv 16 months 2 mSv 8 months 1.6 mSv 6 months 0.8 mSv 3 months 0.7 mSv 3 months 0.6 mSv 2 months 0.1 mSv 10 days 0.01 mSv 1 day   Ultrasound uses acoustic radiation and, at current intensities, no risk is known to exist for this type of imaging procedure. Unlike conventional x-ray examinations and computed tomography (CT) scans, MRI does not depend on radiation. Instead, radio waves are directed at protons, the nuclei of hydrogen atoms, in a strong magnetic field.

Last updated on 1-03-2008