CT Scans Reduce Need for Exploratory Surgery

A 2009 report from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) found a dramatic increase in the use of nuclear medicine since the 1980s, especially computed tomography (CT) scans. These scans help guide treatment of car-accident injuries, cancer, blood clots in the lungs and many other conditions. Approximately 68 million CT scans were performed in the United States in 2006, according to the NCRP. 

CT and other medical imaging procedures have largely eliminated the need for exploratory surgery, leading to a lower risk of surgery-related complications and shorter hospital stays, said Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D., a professor of radiological physics at the Mayo Clinic. Improved technology enables CT scanners to tailor the radiation dose to the specific exam type and individual. As a result, the average dose per CT exam has fallen by a factor of two or three since the early 1980s, McCollough said.