SafetyBehind every scan are clear safety principles — justify it, minimise the dose, and use qualified people and checked equipment. Here's how radiology is kept safe in Australia.
SafetyALARA — 'as low as reasonably achievable' — is the principle that guides how imaging teams keep radiation doses to a minimum. Here's what it means for you as a patient.
ReassuranceNervous about a scan? Here are honest answers to the most common worries — radiation, claustrophobia, contrast, pain and results — to help you feel prepared.
RadiationIf you've had several scans, you may wonder whether the radiation accumulates. Here's how doctors think about repeated imaging — and why each scan is judged on its own merits.
After your scanMild nausea after a scan is usually from contrast or simple anxiety, and passes quickly. Here's what causes it, what helps, and when to seek advice.
Side effectsMost scans have no side effects at all. Where they happen, they're usually mild and brief — like the warm flush from contrast. Here's what's normal, what's rare, and when to seek help.
RadiationHow much radiation do scans actually give you? Here's what 'dose' means, how the common scans compare in a clear table, and how each stacks up against the radiation we all get naturally in Australia.
RadiationLead aprons are the classic image of radiation protection — but the real protection is using less radiation in the first place, and routine patient gonad shielding has been discontinued. Here's modern practice.
SafetyTwo common scans use no ionising radiation at all — ultrasound and MRI. Here's when they're used instead of X-ray or CT, why they're often first choice for children and in pregnancy, and where they can't replace radiation-based scans.
SafetySome people need sedation to manage claustrophobia or to keep still for a scan. Here's what sedation involves, the small risks, and the practical aftercare.
EthicsUsing radiation on people carries a duty to do it responsibly. Here are the ethical principles — justification, optimisation and care — that govern medical imaging.
RadiationFor scans that use radiation, the only long-term concern is a very small possible increase in cancer risk. Here's how that risk is estimated and kept in perspective.
SafetyThe radiation in a scan carries a small, much-discussed risk. Here's a plain-English guide to the actual risk from imaging radiation, who's more sensitive, and how the benefit is weighed against it.
Browse all 12 imaging topics, or jump straight to costs and Medicare.
