This is usually very minor and does not cause any serious damage, however, large doses may cause the cells to become cancerous. Ionising radiation may cause damage to the cells in your body. Can detect changes at an earlier stage than CT or MRI.Detect changes including cancer in your body at a very early stage.Used for diagnosis and to look at how the heart, brain, kidneys and other organs are working.Can be used to look at parts inside your body instead of using surgery.Used for diagnosis to show detail of parts inside your body, such as the lungs, brain, abdominal organs, bones and blood vessels.Ultrasound and MRI scans do not involve ionising radiation. A special camera is then used which detects the energy from the radioactive material in your body. This is either injected into you, or you breathe it in or swallow it. Nuclear medicine and PET scans use a small amount of radioactive material. X-rays are used to take pictures of bones and some parts of inside your body, including the lungs.ĬT scans, which use X-rays, take more detailed pictures (cross-sections) of inside your body, such as the lungs, bones, blood vessels and other organs of the body. Ionising radiation is used in X-rays, CT (Computed Tomography) scans and nuclear medicine scans including PET (Positron Emission Tomography). X-rays, CT scans, nuclear medicine scans and PET scans This is a very small amount (in the ‘low dose range’). We all receive about 2 thousandths of a Sievert (2 mSv) from background radiation every year, which comes from space and from the rocks of the earth. The amount of radiation you receive is measured in Sieverts (Sv). Ionising radiation is also found all around you in the soil, sun, air, plants, food, drink and buildings you live in. Some imaging procedures use X-rays which are a special type of radiation called ‘ionising radiation’. Radiation risks of X-rays and scans What is radiation? WA Health patient/consumer liaison contacts.ScriptCheckWA: Western Australia’s real-time prescription monitoring system.Having a baby in a public country hospital in WA.Ambulance fees for seniors and pensioners.Assistance with travel costs to receive medical care.Telehealth – delivering virtual care closer to home.Screening mammography with BreastScreen WA.Understanding food labels for allergies.Testing or cleaning a house for drug contamination.Alcohol-based hand sanitiser – safe use and storage.Fluoride and protecting your teeth from tooth decay.

X ray risks