Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital

• Previous message: Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital
• Next message: Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

1: I don't disagree with you about over-utilization of diagnostic test in
general and imaging in particular.  I just think that using the Cedars mess
to fuel these assertions is a bizarre stretch.  The Cedars cases were a
matter of procedural technique, not diagnostic process.  If you're going to
play fast and loose with the evidentiary nexus, why didn't you just blame
Chernobyl and save us 20 years of irresponsible scanning?

2: Your first case of radiation-related ALL was probably a very long time
ago.  It's been a quarter-century since my brother died of the disease; but
even then we knew that radiation was by far the leading causative culprit in
adults.  There's no news there.

3: "Some persons were concerned that I shared this investigation with you."
Please.  This is more FDA than FBI.  You're safe from reprisal.  And I
expect that your radiology department is probably able and eager to
formulate its response without any help from the trauma service.

Let's see if we might all calm down a bit.

Pret

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
On Behalf Of KMATTOX at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:34 PM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital

 
 
... There is NO question that far too many CTs are being ordered.   There is
NO question that many physicians who order  CTs only review the reports and
not the actual image.   There is NO  question that many over readings and
terminology to cover ones backside are  often cited on many images.   There
is NO question that initial  readings are frequently are-written after
further review and the original  dictation mysteriously disappears.    There
is NO question that  many VOMITs are being dictated as I am aware of many
cases where operations were  not performed because of the CT reading in
patients who needed an operation and  likewise operations were performed on
the basis of the CT, when no pathology at  all was found at surgery.
We have already  had our first case of lymphoblastic leukemia in a 
patient with significant  radiation dosage from CTs, arteriograms, and other

imaging.     
Some persons were concerned that I shared this investigation with  you.   I 
am aware that regulatory agencies have alerted their field  representatives 
to specifically look at the dosing from CTs and the record  keeping.    I 
will repeat, "A word to the  wise.....".     Each of us will be asked to
show that we are  monitoring the dosing from imaging from CTs, IR, and other

arteriography  etc.     
 
If you think that this story out of California is trivial, just  check with 
your Radiation Safety Officer.   
 
k

• Previous message: Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital
• Next message: Excess Radiation from CT of concern at LA Hospital
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]