Week 1 Thursday - Goldschmidt - Imaging

Question 1

What is the scientific unit of measurement of radiation?

Answer 1

millisievert (mSv)

Question 2

Medical imaging accounts for what percent of all radioactive exposure made from MAN MADE SOURCES?

Answer 2

95%

48% of total exposure

Question 3

How much radiation do you get (on average) from a renal or A/P (anterior/posterior) CT scan?

Answer 3

15 mSv

Question 4

If a population is exposed to a 10 mSv dose of radiation, one in how many (on average) will develop a radiation induced cancer at some point in their life?

Answer 4

1 in 1000

Question 5

Side effects and contraindications of IV contrast? Of MRI contrast?

Answer 5

IV: most common are mild hives/itching. Rare: hypotension, bronchospasm, nephropathy, death. Try not to use if Creatine Kinase is > 1.5 - 2

MRI - Rare: nauses, hives, nephrogenic system fibrosis (NSF). Try not to use if Glomeular filtration rate (GFR) is < 30

Question 6

What is given (and when) to a patient who is on a hypoglycemic agent (like metformin) and is taking a CT scan with oral contrast?

Answer 6

Mucomyst - An antioxidant

Given before and on the day of the procedure.

Question 7

“Active ingredient” in IV contrast? in MRI contrast? in PET scan contrast?

Answer 7

IV: iodine
MRI: Gadolinium metal bound to organic chelate.
PET: fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose of FDG