The following charts are comparisons of effective radiation dose with background radiation exposure for several radiological procedures according to www.radiologyinfo.org
Abdominal Region
Procedure
CT Abdomen and Pelvis
CT Body
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
Radiography (X-ray) Extremity
Radiography (X-ray) Lower GI Tract
Radiography (X-ray) Upper GI Tract
Radiography (X-ray) Spine
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
10 mSv
2-10 mSv
10 mSv
3 mSv
0.001 mSv
8 mSv
6 mSv
1.5 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
3 years
8 months to 3 years
3 years
1 year
Less than 1 day
3 years
2 years
6 months
Central Nervous System
Procedure
CT Head
CT Spine
Myelography
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
2 mSv
6 mSv
4 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
8 months
2 years
16 months
Chest
Procedure
CT Chest
CT Chest Low Dose
Radiography Chest
Children’s Imaging – Voiding Cystourethrogram
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
7 mSv
1.5 mSv
0.1 mSv
Infant: 0.8 mSv, Child 5-10 yo: 1.6 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
2 years
6 months
10 days
3 months, 6 months
Face and Neck
Procedure
CT Sinuses
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
0.6 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
2 months
Heart
Procedure
Cardiac CT for Calcium Scoring
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
2 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
8 months
Men’s Imaging
Procedure
Bone Densitometry (DEXA)
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
0.001 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
Less than 1 day
Women’s Imaging
Procedure
Bone Densitometry (DEXA)
Galactography
Hysterosalpingography
Mammography
Approximate Effective Radiation Dose
0.001 mSv
0.7 mSv
1 mSv
0.7 mSv
Comparable to Natural Background Radiation
Less than 1 day
3 months
4 months
3 months