FDA investigates 300 radiation overdoses from CT scans.

Moral of the story: Just something to be aware of.  The CT might not be set correctly.

Source: AMA Morning Rounds 12/16/09

FDA investigates 300 radiation overdoses from CT scans.

NPR's (12/15, Neighmond) All Things Considered reported, "More than 300 patients may have received an overdose of radiation from a special type of CT scan used to image the brain. The Food and Drug Administration says the radiation overdoses occurred at three hospitals in Los Angeles County and one hospital in Huntsville, AL. FDA officials say there could be many more cases at hospitals nationwide as their investigation unfolds." Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, "acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health," explained that "a regular CT scan to the brain is the equivalent of about 100 chest X-rays," whereas "a perfusion CT scan of the brain is equal to several hundred chest x-rays. Patients at the four hospitals who received excess radiation were exposed to the equivalent of several thousand X-rays instead -- three to eight times the expected radiation dose."