RADIATION SAFETY

X-ray examinations (including CT, PET, nuclear medicine, and nuclear cardiology among others) provide valuable information about your health and can play a vital role in helping your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. In some cases x-rays are used to assist with the placement of tubes or other devices in the body or with other therapeutic procedures. All radiation carries with it some risk that is cumulative over a lifetime.  When properly prescribed, the benefit of improved diagnostic accuracy more than compensates for the risk of radiation exposure.

What is radiation?
Radiation is energy that is emitted from a source in the form of rays or waves, e.g. heat, light, or sound. X-rays are forms of radiant energy that can penetrate the body to allow a radiologist to produce pictures of internal structures. The pictures or images can be viewed on photographic film or picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Excessive or long-term exposure to x-ray energy can cause severe or fatal health problems.