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CT scan information for parents and carers
CT scans and radiation exposure in children and young people
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is promoting new and existing resources to inform the referral and provision of CT scans for children and young people. Assisted by a number of partners, the Commission’s work supports a reduction in unwarranted radiation exposure to children and young people. The Commission has published a summary report on the outcomes of their work to reduce radiation exposure to children and young people from CT scans.
What is a CT scan?
A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to provide images of what is hard and soft inside a body. These X-rays are taken using a rotating ring that is moved around the body. A computer can then turn all the X-ray images into 3D images. As CT scans involve many X-rays, they use higher levels of ionising radiation than other types of medical imaging.
Children and young people and CT scans
CT is a valuable diagnostic tool that is of benefit in a wide range of clinical situations. However, the higher level of ionising radiation used in CT compared to other types of imaging, and their use in childhood or adolescence, has been linked to a slight increase in developing cancer later in life.
It is important to ensure that CT scans are undertaken for time-critical conditions and when there are evidence-based protocols for a particular disease or certain conditions (such as, serious head trauma). However, children and young people are more sensitive to ionising radiation as their bodies are still developing. This means that appropriate consideration needs to be given to whether:
- a CT scan now will improve the child’s health care
- previous scans are available that could provide the information needed
- there are other imaging options that could be used
- a necessary CT scan be done using a ‘kid-sized’ radiation dose
- the benefits and risks have been explained to the parents or carers.
The following pages provide access to information for parents and carers, professionals who refer children for CT scans, providers of medical imaging services and oral healthcare professionals.
CT scans - information for parents and carers
Providing parents and carers with information about CT scans.
CT scans - information for referrers
Provides doctors requesting CT scans with information regarding CT related radiation in children and young people.
CT scans - information for radiographers and medical imaging providers
Information to support medical imaging services undertaking specialised scanning on children and young people.
CT scans - information for dental practitioners and their patients
Information supporting dental healthcare professionals to talk with parents and carers about CT scans.
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
CT scan - myDr.com.au
A CT scan is a sophisticated X-ray that takes a 3-dimensional picture of any part of the body using a computer. CT scans can often replace other techniques used to diagnose, such as exploratory surger
Read more on myDr website
CT scan - Better Health Channel
The CT scan is a medical imaging procedure that uses x-rays and digital computer technology to create detailed images of the body.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
CT scan (computerised tomography) | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
What is a CT scan? CT stands for "computerised tomography"
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
SPECT-CT Scan - InsideRadiology
InsideRadiology
Read more on InsideRadiology website
What parents should know about CT scans for children | ARPANSA
A CT scan is an X-ray imaging technique that is used on people of all ages, including children. CT scans are vitally important for quickly investigating serious health problems inside the body, for example, bleeding inside the skull after a fracture. CT scans provide more information than a plain X-ray image.
Read more on ARPANSA – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website
Computed Tomography (CT)
This article tells consumers about a computed tomography (CT) scan, the benefits and the risks, what happens before, during and after having a CT scan.
Read more on Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website
Dual Energy CT Scan - InsideRadiology
InsideRadiology
Read more on InsideRadiology website
CT scans for children: Information for referrers | ARPANSA
CT scans are a valuable investigative technique because it provides a low risk, non-invasive, fast and accurate method of diagnosing serious injury and illness. However, all these benefits come with an increased exposure to ionising radiation which has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Read more on ARPANSA – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website
Computer aided detection (CT scans, MRI scans) information | myVMC
Computer aided detection (CAD) is a group of imaging techniques, including CT scans and MRI scans, that produce images of internal body structures.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
CT imaging and children | ARPANSA
CT scans are an important medical diagnostic technique that is used on adults and children of all ages.
Read more on ARPANSA – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website
Top results
What is the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic staging following a CT scan for assessing whether pancreatic and periampullary cancer is resectable? | Cochrane
What is the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic staging following a CT scan for assessing whether pancreatic and periampullary cancer is resectable?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Regular or selected use of computed tomography (CT) scanning to reduce deaths in people who have a high-energy blunt-traumatic injury | Cochrane
Regular or selected use of computed tomography (CT) scanning to reduce deaths in people who have a high-energy blunt-traumatic injury
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
What is the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic staging following a CT scan for assessing whether pancreatic and periampullary cancer is resectable? | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Imaging for chronic abdominal pain in adults | Issue 2 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
Diagnostic imaging is often not indicated in chronic abdominal pain. In particular, undifferentiated abdominal pain is rarely an indication for a CT scan. CT...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
The use of computed tomography angiography (CTA) to confirm the clinical diagnosis of brain death | Cochrane
This Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review looked at the evidence for the radiology test computed tomography angiography (CTA), which demonstrates blood flow in the main vessels of the brain, to support the results of clinical tests of brain function performed in unconscious patients on mechanical breathing machines who are thought by their doctors to have died.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Abscess (Intra-Abdominal)
This pathway provides guidance for imaging adult patients with suspected intra-abdominal abscess, including those with and without a recent surgical operation.
Read more on Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website
Magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography for detection of acute vascular lesions in patients presenting with stroke symptoms | Cochrane
Magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography for detection of acute vascular lesions in patients presenting with stroke symptoms
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
PET-CT scanning to assess the spread of non-small cell lung cancer within the chest | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Comparing different types of scan (CT, MRI, bone scan) for diagnosis of clinically suspected scaphoid fractures, when initial radiographs are negative | Cochrane
Comparing different types of scan (CT, MRI, bone scan) for diagnosis of clinically suspected scaphoid fractures, when initial radiographs are negative
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Screening for lung cancer | Cochrane
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the western world. It takes about 20 years to develop and cigarette smoking is a known cause. Most lung cancers are not found early in the development of the disease. Regular screening is offered to those considered to be at high risk of contracting the disease. Trials were made of early detection methods such as the testing of sputum, x-ray and computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest to see whether they made a difference to the number of people who were treated by surgery and the number of people who died as a result of the disease. This review examined the evidence from nine trials (with a total of 453,965 participants) and found that early screening with chest X-ray or sputum testing does not reduce the number of people who die from lung cancer. Screening with low-dose chest CT was found in one large trial to reduce the number of people who die from lung cancer but this trial only included very high-risk smokers and ex-smokers. CT screening however is associated with a high number of false positive results and there are also some people who have lung cancer detected and treated but in whom this cancer may not have progressed to cause death in their lifetime, even in the absence of treatment (referred to as overdiagnosis). More research is needed about the relative harms and benefits of CT screening in individuals at lower risk for lung cancer.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
