Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
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.
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

SPECT-CT Scan - InsideRadiology
InsideRadiology provides free and easily accessible, accurate, up to date and credible information about medical imaging tests and procedures.
Read more on InsideRadiology 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

Chest CT scan - St Vincent's Lung Health
Information about Chest CT scans including how to prepare and what happens during and after the procedure.
Read more on St Vincent's Hospital Lung Health website

Dual Energy CT Scan - InsideRadiology
InsideRadiology provides free and easily accessible, accurate, up to date and credible information about medical imaging tests and procedures.
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

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

Top results
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

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

PET-CT scanning to assess the spread of non-small cell lung cancer within the chest | Cochrane
Authors' conclusions: This review has shown that accuracy of PET-CT is insufficient to allow management based on PET-CT alone
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website

Aortic Dissection (Spontaneous)
This pathway provides guidance for imaging adult patients with suspected non-traumatic aortic dissection.
Read more on Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website

Dyspepsia
This pathway provides guidance on the investigation of adult patients presenting with dyspepsia, with emphasis on the symptoms that indicate the need for endoscopic or radiological examination.
Read more on Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website

Bone mineral density: testing for osteoporosis | Issue 2 | Volume 39 | Australian Prescriber
Diagnosing osteoporosis requires a careful search for fragility fractures and measuring bone mineral density.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website

Anal fissure | Australian Prescriber
An anal fissure is a common, mostly benign, condition that can be acute or chronic.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that can last for months or even years. It is a syndrome that doesn’t discriminate, often occurring after an injury such as a fracture or sprain.
Read more on Ausmed Education website

Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) | Ausmed
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome refers to the condition where both Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff syndrome (KS) are present in one individual.
Read more on Ausmed Education website

Blood tests for acute pancreatitis | Issue 4 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis requires the presence of at least two of the three diagnostic criteria characteristic abdominal pain, elevated serum...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
