What are the risks of indirect radiation exposure during a CT scan?

Question

Hello doctor,

A couple of days back, I had to take my aunt for a brain CT scan. The CT scan operator asked me to be in the room. They gave me an apron, but my arm and head got exposed. They asked me to hold her head steady, so I held her chin while she slid into the CT scanner. During this, my hands went inside along with her head. They had to repeat this four times as she was moving her head. I am worried about radiation exposure. The main concern was my body parts were exposed. Secondly, it was done four times. Please let me know if I have to worry. Also, that day I had slight warmth on the exposed skin. Today I have slight ankle pain. Not sure if this is related. Could you please tell me whether I am at risk of getting some disease in the future due to this exposure?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

CT (computed tomography) scan of the head has low radiation exposure. Although your head and hands were exposed, the lead apron would have reduced the total body dose. You said it was done four times, but I am unsure if the whole scan was done four times or just the planning CT sequence. If it was just the planning sequences, the radiation is similar to an x-ray, which is comparatively low. Even otherwise, the lead apron protects from most radiation, and there is a very low chance of this causing problems later on.

Let me know if you have any other questions.