3 ms·
By my math, a chest CT is about 10x the dose from a flight. However, there is no “safe” level of ionizing radiation. There is only acceptable and unacceptable
by projektfu 7y ago
By my math, a chest CT is about 10x the dose from a flight. However, there is no “safe” level of ionizing radiation. There is only acceptable and unacceptable risk.
- klipt 7y agoRight, one CT scan increases your lifetime risk of cancer 0.1%: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-ct-scans-increase-risk-cancer/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-ct-scans... Which isn't much for one person, but if you're CT scanning thousands of people, on average that's an extra case of cancer per thousand scanned. The PCR test is probably more accurate and in the US, maybe even cheaper? Although it probably does have higher latency.
- jcampbell1 7y agoA lung CT can be done at about 1/5th the radiation dose of a chest CT. The future will decide if we took the correct risk with extremely limited testing in the early stages. In my experience, “not my job” , “too much risk”, and “need more data to make a decision“ is the default attitude in the medical profession. People choose that career because it is safe, and very few doctors have military experience these days. That being said, people adjust to a new reality very quickly.
- projektfu 7y agoBy the time pneumonia has occurred it’s too late for screening. This isn’t replacing rtPCR for people who are coughing.