The Los Angeles Times published an article about the increased use of CT scans in emergency rooms and the harm the increased radiation can cause to the human body.
The story shows that in 1995 there were 2.7 million CT scans performed and that number increased to 16.2 million in 2007. This represents a 16% per year increase. The most common uses of CT scans are for patients with abdominal pain, headaches and chest pain. With this large increase in CT scan usage, little research has been done that shows the level of patient care has benefitted.
What is known is that there is a tremendous amount of radiation involved in a CT scan. Dr. Chris Fox, Director of Emergency Ultrasound at UCI Irvine states that the amount of radiation exposure involved in a CT of a persons abdominal region is equivalent to 500 chest x-rays. “The accumulation of radiation over time can lead to cancer, so it can be risky” Fox said.
CT scans are known for having a wide range of price. This is especially important today as more and more people of paying a higher portion of their health care expenses. Even those in the health care industry have a difficult time knowing how much a CT scan costs. A study in the Journal of Hospital Medicine surveyed Hospitalists about cost of procedures which involved CT scans. While most knew they cost more than x-rays, they were off on the true cost involved. The most common responses ranged from between $150 – $1,800. The actual price per the survey was $2,204.
There are many factors which contribute to the range of prices found for CT scans, the most common being where the scan was taken. Hospitals usually have the highest price while stand alone facilities are generally lower.
