Which statement correctly describes a primary drawback of CT imaging?

Which statement correctly describes a primary drawback of CT imaging?

• A. CT is primarily limited to use in the pediatric population since many adults are too large to fit into the bore of the unit.
• B. CT uses ionizing radiation to acquire an image and therefore exposes the patient to harmful radiation
• C. Like X-ray, CT cannot generate images in the axial plane.
• D. CT uses hydrogen ions to acquire an image, which may cause dehydration.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the main drawback of CT imaging is exposure to ionizing radiation. CT uses X-ray beams to measure how tissues attenuate the radiation, which lets the scanner reconstruct detailed cross-sectional images. That radiation exposure carries a small but real risk of harm, particularly with repeated scans, in children, or in pregnant patients, so dose reduction and justification are important considerations in CT practice. CT does provide rapid, high-resolution images and can reconstruct data in multiple planes, including axial slices by default. So the statement claiming it cannot image in the axial plane isn’t correct. The suggestion about using hydrogen ions and causing dehydration is not how CT works—it uses X-ray photons, not hydrogen ions, and dehydration isn’t a concern from the procedure. A correct understanding here is that the primary drawback is the ionizing radiation exposure, which requires balancing diagnostic benefit with potential risk.

The key idea is that the main drawback of CT imaging is exposure to ionizing radiation. CT uses X-ray beams to measure how tissues attenuate the radiation, which lets the scanner reconstruct detailed cross-sectional images. That radiation exposure carries a small but real risk of harm, particularly with repeated scans, in children, or in pregnant patients, so dose reduction and justification are important considerations in CT practice.

CT does provide rapid, high-resolution images and can reconstruct data in multiple planes, including axial slices by default. So the statement claiming it cannot image in the axial plane isn’t correct. The suggestion about using hydrogen ions and causing dehydration is not how CT works—it uses X-ray photons, not hydrogen ions, and dehydration isn’t a concern from the procedure.

A correct understanding here is that the primary drawback is the ionizing radiation exposure, which requires balancing diagnostic benefit with potential risk.