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CT Scans vs Sputum Cultures, which is more important?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Aug 4, 2023 | Replies (65)Comment receiving replies
Rick,
Interesting. What city are you in? I'm in San Jose, CA.
A single chest x-ray exposes the patient to about 0.1 mSv. This is about the same amount of radiation people are exposed to naturally over the course of about 10 days.
A CT scan of the abdomen (belly) and pelvis exposes a person to about 10 mSv.
A PET/CT exposes you to about 25 mSv of radiation. This is equal to about 8 years of average background radiation exposure.
So you have had a lot of radiation!! Some doctors, such as my pulmonologist,
is hesitant to order too many scans. I have an appointment tomorrow,
and I will ask him about what additional information a CT gives over an
XRay.
I do have COPD and Emphysema, so maybe that makes a difference.
Harry
Radiation info from cancer.org website.
Replies to "Rick, Interesting. What city are you in? I'm in San Jose, CA. A single chest x-ray..."
Saw my pulmonologist today. He said you do see more with
a CT, but because of the high radiation, he doesn't order
them every three months. If things appear to be stable, he
will order the next one in six months, or depending on
what is going on, may order an XRay in three months for
a quick check.
Harry
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I am 65 and live in Northern Colorado. I had one PET a 15 months ago (Negative, yea) and a VQ a year ago. I have a lot going on: Copd, Emphysema, MAC, cavitation, scar tissue, alpha-1, maybe some pulmonary hypertension, and now aspergillis. All but the aspergillus were diagnosed before most of the CT's. But hey, I played golf, fished and worked last week so I am not doing too bad.