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are CT scans safe for infants?

ORIGINAL POST
Posted by alila 19 yrs ago
anyone have any experience with CT scans and know whether they are safe for infants? My 1 yr old has been booked for a CT scan (by the paed in the hospital)due to a 'large head' size. I've seen 2 paeds and still feel very unsettled and scared to put my baby through it. Any advice out there?

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COMMENTS
Scutdog1 19 yrs ago
Yes, it's fine. Even newborns is not a problem. The thing to be concern about is if sedation is needed but even so, still very, very safe.


On the other hand, NOT doing the CT to see if there is a problem with excessive head growth is dangerous.


Bottom line, doing the CT (even with sedation) is far safer than NOT doing the CT.

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alila 19 yrs ago
Scutdog1, thanks for the advice. Yes, my boy would have to be sedated b/c he's so young and may move during the scan. What is the concern if he's being sedated? Just want to know what will happen when I take him in. Thanks.

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Matilda 19 yrs ago
Usually infants under one are not recommended to undergo routine screening with a CT because of the radiation. However there are times when clinical symptoms are strong enough to warant it. In that case an ultrafast scanner can reduce the exposure as it can take the pictures faster. The amount of radiation will also depend on how many pictures (slices they take), this can be 6mm, 3mm or 1.5mm.


Perhaps you should discuss your concerns with your paed.


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Scutdog1 19 yrs ago
Sedation is generally safe. The greatest risk is respiratory depression. Aspiration is also a concern that's why you don't feed the baby for several hours before. Low blood pressure is more of a theoretical than real concern. I am a firm believer that anytime a child is sedated, he/she should be attached to a "pulse oximeter" that measures the oxygen content in the blood continuously. If you got the pulse oximeter and of course someone to monitor it, then the risk negligible.


Chloral hydrate is a common choice and overall effective and safe. More seroius sedatives such as ketamine, propofol, pentobarbitol should have a doctor stand by at the CT scanner, but they are rarely needed. There are of course other agents such as Versed, Ativan, and Valium that is in between.


Hope it helps. Like I said before, it is safer to do it than to ignore it.


I agree with Matilda that rountine CT screening is not necessary; but an abnormally accelerated growth of the head (not just a large head unless it's really big) is an excellent reason to get a CT or even an MRI of the brain.

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@@ 19 yrs ago
This is an interesting thread, both my kids have abnormally large heads but as the growth rate still followed the usual curve our doctors in Australia decided not to proceed with scans.


The biggest concern from the Aussie doctors was if there had been a major growth spurt, especially around 4 months of age. I know the pediatricians in Hong Kong were a lot more concerned which of course worried me.


Would you mind telling me your childs head circumference and age, thanks.

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alila 19 yrs ago
@@-my child is 1 year and 2 weeks old. His head circumference measured at 50 cm.


This would not be a 'routine' screening as my boy was diagnosed at the clinic, then referred to the hospital. Just feel uneasy to see my l'il one go through this especially the sedation with IV part......


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@@ 19 yrs ago
Thanks Alila,


My son was 52cm at 1 year old.


Good luck with the tests, I hope everything works out for you.

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Meiguoren 19 yrs ago
One of mine had a CAT scan of the head when she was about 6 or 8 months old. They had me hold her head still and comfort her, but she did end up screaming because she didn't want to hold still. It was a long couple of minutes for me and her both, but it worked.

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alila 19 yrs ago
@@- it's interesting how your Austrailian dr.'s held off on the scan. So, your children never went through with it and it's fine?


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@@ 19 yrs ago
Alila, both of my kids have big heads so certainly with the second even the doctors here agreed that I must just make them that way!


We did keep an eye on my oldest, we noticed his growth (while way above the 100% percentile) was still following the same curve so I followed my Australian doctors advice and didn't do any scans.


Also, like Ruth mentioned above, both my husband and I have quite large heads - my husband had his school hats made to measure!


My oldest is now 5 years old and (of course I would say this) he's very, very bright.


GOod Luck to you, perhaps your little fellow will be a future Mensa member :-)

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Scutdog1 19 yrs ago
Please note. Large head size is not necessarily an indication for a CT, but an abnormally accelerated growth spurt is. There's a difference. As implied, some people just has large heads (actually, I have an abnormally large head myself, literally but perhaps figuretively as well).

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alila 19 yrs ago
I agree that large head size shd not warrant a CT scan...thus, I'm hesitant as it seems that in the medical side they were too quick to do a scan. In my son's case it has been a 'steady' growth...but not a big jump or 'accelerated' growth. Well, I guess I will go through with it as Scutdog1 mentioned...'safer that NOT doing it'

Just hope all goes well. Thanks for everyone's input.

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@@ 19 yrs ago
Good luck Alila, hope all goes well.

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