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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 21 5:21pm | Replies (9354)Comment receiving replies
@poodledoc Hi! Was wondering how often you and others get CT scans? I have nodular Bronchiectasis (&MAC) and my Dr wants to stay up on them but I question if yearly CT scans are neccessary. I have requested alternating CT with Xrays as I understand they have much less radiation. Any thoughts? Kate
Replies to "@poodledoc Hi! Was wondering how often you and others get CT scans? I have nodular Bronchiectasis..."
@alleycatkate I have same Dx, I get yearly scans now. Like Irene, I was getting it every 6 months in the beginning. It’s my understanding, that now there are ‘low dose’ CT scans. Not as much radiation. I guess we have to decide which is the lesser of two evils. Radiation vs infection.
@alleycatkate @ginak I am currently on a yearly CT scan schedule, but if no change may extend that time frame. A chest Xray puts out a lot less radiation, but it will probably only show an advanced case of Bronchiectasis/MAC. The chest CTs are really necessary to monitor nodular Bronchiectasis (&MAC). The "low dose CT scans" are used primarily as screening for lung cancer and not as diagnostic as a regular chest CT. There is a chart that compares amounts of radiation for each procedure in this article https://www.health.harvard.edu/cancer/radiation-risk-from-medical-imaging I am not happy about the amount of radiation, but it is a necessary evil IMHO. Bill
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@alleycatkate Hi Kate. I was getting them every six months in the beginning. Because I am not a spitting kind of gal -( dry as a bone) I have to have a yearly CT scan. Since being on the Arikayce, however, I have lots of the P and M words! Irene