[ RadSafe ] RE: radsafe Digest, Vol 122, Issue 10

[John R Johnson]

John et al

Was that back when MRI was called NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), and 
wasn't it changed to MRI so that the word "nuclear" was not used?

John
***************
John R Johnson, PhD
CEO, IDIAS, Inc.
4535 West 9th Ave
Vancouver, B. C.
V6R 2E2, Canada
(604) 222-9840
idias at interchange.ubc.ca

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Jacobus" <crispy_bird at yahoo.com>
To: "Steven Dapra" <sjd at swcp.com>; "David & Susan McElrath" 
<sdjjjnmc at comcast.net>; <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] RE: radsafe Digest, Vol 122, Issue 10


> Before CT scanning became the standard, evaluations
> for appendicitis and a number of other vascular
> conditions was done by exploratory surgery, with the
> inherent risks of anesthesia and infection control.
> MRI and CT have both eliminated the the need for the
> vast majority of exploratory surgery and "wait and
> watch" diagnositic procedures.
>
> Regarding the publics knowledge of cancer risks, as
> someone what are the odds they will get cancer in
> their lifetime.  The answer is 43%.
>
> --- Steven Dapra <sjd at swcp.com> wrote:
>
>> Dec. 3
>>
>>          Your points are well taken.  However:  how
>> was appendicitis
>> diagnosed before the advent of CT scans?  My
>> appendix began acting up in
>> 1977, and when I went to the emergency room the
>> first thing that happened
>> was some ER Dr. started letting up on me.
>>
>>          With regard to the theoretical cancers
>> versus a presently existing
>> life-threatening condition, I am at a loss to
>> understand the panic over a
>> mathematically derived possible cancer increase of
>> two percent.  I am
>> especially unable to understand it in light of the
>> universally accepted
>> fact that 65 percent of cancer is caused by smoking
>> and diet.  Drs. Brenner
>> and Hall, the authors of the NEJM review article
>> about CT scan dangers,
>> would be better advised to get busy exhorting people
>> to stop smoking and to
>> stop living on fatty, greasy food.  Some of the
>> things people get worked up
>> over don't make a whole lot of sense.
>>
>> Steven Dapra
>>
>>
>> At 08:51 PM 12/1/07 -0500, David & Susan McElrath
>> wrote:
>>
>> > > Why are CT scans being used to diagnose
>> > > appendicitis in children?  Why not do white
>> blood cell counts; and
>> > > do what is called "letting up" on the patient's
>> abdomen?  (Those who
>> > > have been "let up" on will know what I mean.)
>> >
>> >Leukocytosis and the presence of rebound tenderness
>> is non-specific to
>> >appendicitis. Assessing for rebound tenderness
>> ("letting up") may cause
>> >severe pain and further trauma, especially in
>> pediatric patients. A
>> >diagnosis of appendicitis based solely on
>> leukocytosis and the presence of
>> >rebound tenderness is irresponsible in this day of
>> modern imaging technology
>> >(IMHO). I would imagine this practice would result
>> in a large number of
>> >unnecessary appendectomies.
>> >
>> >I prepare patients for CT scans all the time and
>> have yet to have a patient
>> >or family member express any concern whatsoever
>> about the radiation
>> >exposure. Somehow a theoretical increase in the
>> risk of cancer "someday"
>> >pales in comparison to the problem at hand, usually
>> a potentially
>> >life-threatening condition. I understand the
>> concern is over unnecessary CT
>> >scans and exposure of large populations but this
>> simply breaks down and
>> >becomes irrelevant at the individual patient level.
>> They're hurting, they're
>> >sick; someone has to do something. CT sure beats
>> exploratory surgery and all
>> >its associated risks.
>> >
>> >-Susan McElrath, RN, BSN, BSHP
>>
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>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++
> "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it 
> takes to sit down and listen." -- Sir Winston Churchill
>
> -- John
> John Jacobus, MS
> Certified Health Physicist
> e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com
>
>
> 
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