A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CT SCANS FOR CHILDREN
In Australia, many children have a Computed Tomography (CT) scan each year, providing doctors
with important information to help care for them. The following information may assist you with
questions you may have if your child needs a CT scan.
WHAT IS A CT SCAN?
 An X-ray provides images of what is hard and soft inside your body.
 A CT scan uses X-rays taken by a rotating ring moved around the body. A computer then turns
all the X-ray images into 3-D images.
 These 3-D images offer doctors many views of what is happening inside your child’s body and
are particularly useful for investigating conditions such as serious head injury, and chest and
abdomen problems.
 Some dentists may also wish to have a CT scan of your child’s teeth to help them provide better
dental care.
 CT scans sometimes involve your child having a special drink or being injected with a dye. This
drink or dye moves through the body and helps certain problems show up more clearly on the
scan.
 CT scans involve the use of radiation. CT scans generally use a higher level of radiation than
X-rays. Further information on radiation, both in the everyday environment and in health care
settings is available at http://www.nps.org.au/medical-tests/medical-imaging/forindividuals/radiation.
CT SCANS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
 CT scans can provide doctors with important information for the care of your child especially in
emergency situations, when CTs are often the quickest and most accurate way to see inside
your child’s body.
 If your child ever faces an emergency situation and a CT scan is suggested, your child’s doctor
has decided that a CT scan will provide the information they need to make urgent decisions
about treatment.
OTHER BENEFITS OF A CT SCAN
 Your child should only have a CT scan if their doctor considers the benefit to your child’s health
from having the test is greater than the small potential risk of having it.
 If your child requires an imaging test, a CT scan is often the best imaging choice, providing
information that other types of imaging are unable to provide.
RISKS OF A CT SCAN
 CT scans use higher doses of radiation than other types of imaging tests, including X-rays.
 Children are more sensitive to the effects of radiation as their bodies are still developing.
 Use of CT scans in children has been linked to a slight increase in the chance of developing
cancer later in life.
 Your child’s doctor can provide you with advice about the benefits and the risks to consider.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LOWER THE RADIATION DOSE FROM CT SCANNING
 The number of CT scans performed on your child needs to be kept to the smallest amount
needed by doctors and dentists to inform your child’s care.
 The results of earlier tests may be able to assist a doctor care for your child so let them know if
your child has had a CT or other scans before. This is particularly important if your child has a
serious health problem needing regular CT scans
 If you feel you need further information, do ask your child’s doctor about why they have decided
a CT scan is necessary. If a diagnosis is not required urgently, your child’s doctor may consider
other options, including a wait-and-see or ‘watchful waiting’ approach, rather than sending your
child to have a CT scan immediately
 Your child’s doctor may also consider other types of imaging such as ultrasound and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI). These imaging tests do not use radiation, but they may not show the
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doctor the information they need for your child’s care, or they may not be readily available where
you live. However, it is always okay to ask your child’s doctor whether there are any other tests
that could be used that don’t use radiation.
Before your appointment, ask your CT imaging service whether they regularly image children.
Some services are more suited to imaging adults, so ask if you are unsure. If the service says
they cannot ‘kid-size’ your child’s radiation dose, or they don’t regularly scan many children,
please do talk to your child’s doctor about this.
Ideally, only the part of the body being examined needs to be scanned. Protecting other body
parts that may get exposed is important so ask the radiographer (the person doing the scan) to
cover your child as much as possible and ask about shielding for yourself as well.
PREPARING YOUR CHILD AND ASKING FOR SUPPORT
 Imaging may be unsettling for children and they may have trouble keeping still. CT scans are
generally quick, but if your child moves or cannot hold their breath for a chest scan, it can blur
the images and a scan may need to be repeated. Things such as a favourite toy can help your
child keep still during the scan.
 Your child may need a general anaesthetic if they are a baby or too young to stay still or hold
their breath for the scan.
 Many hospitals and imaging services will have information on how to get your child ready for
their CT on their websites. These services may also have a person experienced in child life
therapy who can help your child practise having a scan.
 If your child is to have their chest scanned, you can help them practise holding their breath at
home, prior to the scan. You may also like to show your child Lexie’s story about having a CT
scan of her chest at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBewCjASAoA&feature=youtu.be
IF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, WHO SHOULD YOU TALK TO?
If possible, you should first talk to the doctor or dentist who is requesting your child’s CT scan. Your
child’s doctor or dentist can assist you with decisions about the right test for your child.
When your child is to be scanned, you can also ask questions of the person doing the test; they will
be able to answer other questions you may have.
KEEP A RECORD OF SCANS AND OTHER IMAGING
It’s a good idea to keep a record of the tests your child has, so you can tell your child’s doctor each
time they suggest a new test or scan. This record doesn’t have to be new. If your child was born in
Australia, you may have been given a health record book for your child and have taken this book to
the child health clinic for immunisations or health checks. A book such as this, or another of your
choice, can help you and your child’s doctor keep track of the imaging that your child receives. In
some states, these books are available electronically:
NSW – My Personal Health Record (http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Kids/Publications/my-personalhealth-record.pdf)
Vic – My Health and Development Record (Paper based only)
Qld – Personal Health Record (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshealth/docs/phr.pdf)
SA – My Health and Development Record (http://www.cyh.com/library/child_health_record_full.pdf)
WA – All About Me Child Health Book (Paper based only)
Tas – XXX Name and electronic link – awaiting response from Tas
ACT – My ACT Personal Health Record
(http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=glob&object=1400023710)
NT – No book provided
Also take previous scans and X-rays to your child’s appointments, including dental appointments.
The back of a wardrobe is a good place to store previous scans and X-rays so you can find them
when you need them.
This information is of a general nature only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any
questions or concerns, please ask your doctor or medical imaging staff.
* Images are to be added to resource.