Radiology Body Refutes AIIMS Director's 'CT Scans Equivalent To 300-400 X-Rays' Claim, Calls It 'Unscientific'

The body further said, “Radiologists all over the world follow the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) and give the minimal radiation possible during the scan”.

New Delhi: The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) has issued a press released refuting AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria's recent claims where he comared a CT Scan to equal to taking 300-400 X-rays.

The radiology body called the claim misleading, said that the idea that CT Scans cause cansed is outdated, the body expressed that it was “shocked and disappointed” by the senior doctor’s comments. 

Recently, AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria said that the CT Scan was equivalent to 300-400 X-rays so people should avoid it in mild cases. CT Scans had become a go to as the newer variants of Covid-19 weren't easily dected in the RT-PCR tests even when the person was showing symptoms of Covid. 

In a seven pointer statement, the IRAI said, “CT Chest is helpful to stage the disease mild, moderate or severe, there by contributing significantly in management. More over the progression of the disease can be monitored by CT especially in patients who are deteriorating”.

The IRIA said a CT scan is “far more sensitive than saturation monitoring by pulse oximetry in detecting lung damage”, and can help timely administration of steroids.

“Already hospitals are overburdened and with early administration of treatment, it might be possible to manage the patients at home. Earlier the treatment is started, easier it is to save a patient,” it said.

About the comparison to 300-400 X-rays, the IRIA has said his comments are “unscientific”, “alarming,” and “irresponsible”.

'This is a very retrograde and was the situation 30-40 years ago. The modern CT Scanners use ultra low dose CT which has radiation comparable to only 5-10 x-rays,' the IRIA said.

The body further said, “Radiologists all over the world follow the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) and give the minimal radiation possible during the scan."

“Also the statement that CT Chest can cause Lung Cancer is alarming. The radiation dose from a single CT Chest is almost equivalent to the back ground radiation received by any person over a year,” the body said, adding, “such unscientific and irresponsible statements from such senior health authorities creates confusion among the public and hampers COVID 19 treatment”.