Reply -- reported side effects from CT scan of head

["Sandra" <bengeks@connix.com>]

I have had many CT scans of my head for sinus problems in the last three

years.  I have had two sinus surgeries because of what the doctor found on

the CT scans.  Before any of these scans no one, no technician or doctor

notified me that there was a high dose of radiation associated with this

scan, which I have had several.  I would like to know more about this.  I

have recently started to have problems with my Prolactin levels being

elevated and I have had to have several blood tests monitoring my levels of

this hormone in my blood.  I am a non-pregnant female.  They mentioned that

I may have prolactin secreting tumors on the pituary gland. Nothing has been

decided yet.  When doing research on this elevated prolactin levels I came

across a study about immigrants being exposed to radiation to kill parasites

on their heads and they developed these prolactin secreting tumors

afterwards.  They sited a correlation.



Anyone have additional reading and studies that I can read?



-- Sandy





----- Original Message -----

From: "Mahmoud S. Haleem" <mhaleem@accmail.umd.edu>

To: <JGinniver@AOL.COM>

Cc: <>

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 2:09 PM

Subject: Re: reported side effects from CT scan of head





> Two years ago I had CT  scan for the similar sinus problem.  The scan

> revealed what the problem was.   The physician was able to prescribe the

> proper medication to alleviate the problem.   So far I do not have any

> thyroid problem and I do not think I will due to the CT scan unless I

> become one in a million statistic.

>

>

> JGinniver@AOL.COM wrote:

>

> > A relative recently went to an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist due to

> > sinus problems.  Unfortunately the specialist was unable to identify

> > the cause.  The next step, which the specialist was reluctant to take

> > was a CT Scan, presumably of the head.  The specialist stated that

> > unless the symptoms became more severe that s/he wouldn't authorise

> > the CT scan due to the high levels of radiation involved.  The

> > specialist then went on to state that some individuals who had recived

> > CT scan (again presumably of the head) had experienced thyroid

> > problems.

> >

> > I don't wish to debate the merits or not of prescribing the CT

> > examination.  The Doctors decision not to do this is consistent with

> > guidance in the UK that they shouldn;t not prescribe a radiation

> > examination unless they believe it is justified and that the benefits

> > outweigh the risk, albeit small, of the radiation exposure.

> >

> > What I would like assistance with is the validity of the statement

> > that a proportion of patients who have recieved CT scans have then

> > experienced thyroid problems.  Based on current evidence I don't

> > believe that this is possible, but Medical Physics is  not my field

> > and I would be grateful if others with knowledge and experience in

> > this area could help.  Has there every been any published study that

> > has managed to identify a statistical link between CT scans and

> > Thyroid problems.  I intend to write to the Doctor to establish the

> > reason for this statement, but would like some more information, if

> > it's available, before I do so.

> >

> > Thanks for any help you can all provide.

> > Regards,

> >      Julian

>



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