All CT Scans are forms of X-ray involving small doses of radiation to complete the scan.  To ensure that you are fully informed about this aspect of our service we have detailed below some facts and figures about radiation, any risks and comparisons to other risks in our daily lives.

Radiation is something we live with every day.  Dependent upon where you live you will experience low levels of radiation from your environment.  This is measured in Millisieverts or mSv.  In most parts of the UK a year’s background radiation equates to an average of 2.3 mSv, however in Devon and Cornwall this rises to 9 mSv per annum, due to the density of granite and radon gas in the area.

The estimated theoretical risk of developing a fatal cancer from a 1 mSv exposure of radiation is 1 in 1,000,000.  In comparison the lifetime risk of developing a fatal cancer is 1 in 4 and more than half of the remaining population will die from heart disease.

During our lifetime we take similar risks, perhaps without realising their impact.  Other activities involving a risk of 1 in 1,000,000 are; smoking 1 cigarette; spending two days in New York City (pollution); driving 50 miles (accident); flying 250 miles in a plane (accident) or canoeing for 6 minutes.

Obviously we all at various times need X-rays to diagnose health problems and Radiographers (those responsible for taking X-rays or Scans) and Radiologists (specialist doctors who review the images for diagnosis) work with radiation all the time.  The maximum occupational dose for such people is 20 mSv in any one year.

A Life Scan plus Virtual Colonoscopy has a total dose of approximately 10 mSv, similar to the exposure during a coronary angiogram or cardiac catheter.  A Virtual Colonoscopy is approximately 6 mSv, less than the dose of a traditional Barium Enema.  Likewise a Heart Scan is 1.4 mSv and a Lung Scan is 1 mSv, both less than a year’s background radiation. We do not recommend annual scans for individuals unless they are, or have been a heavy smoker.  Most people would be recommended to have a scan every five years.

With doses as low as those used for both screening and diagnostic use it is not possible to make any definite predictions about risk. There is even some evidence to show that low doses are in fact beneficial and result in lower incidences of cancer.

It is simply a case of the benefits outweighing any risk.

In this country, the risk of developing cancer is 1 in 3, with 1 in 4 people dying from cancer.  Of these 22% will die of lung cancer, 11% from colon cancer, 8% from breast cancer and 6% from prostate cancer.  We believe that by offering scans to the general population many of these deaths can be avoided by the early detection and treatment of these cancers. 

In addition, heart disease is still the single biggest killer in the UK.  All people develop coronary artery disease with the early changes beginning in childhood. Again early detection can quite literally mean the difference between life and death and with advances in heart surgery early intervention can offer a new lease of life to someone suffering with coronary heart disease.

With some of our more specialist scans such as Virtual Colonoscopy we believe they offer a viable alternative to the traditional methods which have a relatively high risk associated with them. 

Regulation

Lifescan is regulated under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures)(Amendment) Regulations 2006