One of the primary side effects of 64-Slice CT is radiation exposure. CT angiograms produce "ionizing radiation" in the process of creating an image, which is known to cause cancer as well as damage to an unborn child.
Computed Tomography technology is based on x-rays, and works by capturing x-ray images from multiple angles and using these to re-create a three dimensional image. All humans are actually exposed to radiation through background radiation. Radiation places patients at a higher risk for cancer, however, and thus a CT angiogram should only be completed if there is a good medical reason for the scan. At the present time, a CT angiogram is not recommended for routine prevention practice.
Multi-Detector Computed Tomography has a much larger amount of radiation exposure than is seen with a traditional X-ray. This is especially true of CT angiograms, which use a large amount of radiation to produce images. The newest generation MDCT scanners use techniques to reduce the total amount of radiation, but it can never be completely eliminated from a CT scan.
Radiation is especially harmful to an unborn child, and pregnant women should not have a CT scan due to this risk. You should inform your physician if you feel that you may be pregnant or if you are breast feeding before obtaining a CT scan.
More Information
For more information about 64 slice CT scans, please see our sections on side effects of 64 slice CT scans, finding a 64 CT scan center, 64 Slice Coronary CTA, 64 Slice Heart Scan, and 64 slice CT angiogram.
