Caring For Children With Special Needs

Children with special needs can still live fun filled lives.  Some parents feel that since their child has to be especially taken care of, that they cannot enjoy some of the same pleasures in life that other kids can.  While some kids have more severe cases than others, parents should still always remember to try to make their lives as fun as possible.

Kids like to help their parents cook.  The great thing about cooking is that there are simple things that kids can do to help.  For instance, if you are baking a cake, you can have your children with special needs help by stirring some of the ingredients together.  They could also break some eggs.  Watch their eyes shine with delight as they get to help with something real.

Kids know when they are being treated special.  They love it.      

Your kids are always watching you.  They know what your favorite interests and hobbies are.

They may not mention it, but they probably wonder why they do not get to be part of your hobbies.  Children with special needs are no exception.  They are watching you, and would love to be part of your life.  You should try to figure out how to involve them more with what you like to do.

In situations like this, it is usually better to error on the side of caution.  So, start small.  You can build up to bigger things, but at first you should give your children with special needs smaller tasks to take care of.  Hopefully, they will not feel insulted by how small the task is.  As they accomplish things successfully, you can increase the difficulties of the task.  You might be surprised at just how involved they can get.

I know that it’s nice to have your alone time.  You might treasure the quiet time that you have to yourself.  Still, you children with special needs know when they are not invited.  They would treasure that time with you.

In addition, you don’t have to only invite them to play.  If you are doing chores, then get your children with special needs involved.  There are many chores that they can do.  They are still children and they need to learn the joy that comes from cleaning.  Have them dust, or fold some clothes.  There are many low risk chores that they can be assigned.

The main point in all of this is to not deny your children opportunities to be children.  Sure, they’re different from other kids.  That just means that they are going to do things in their own way.  They might surprise you at just how good they are at some things.  If you never give them a chance to try, then they will never be able to surprise you.

These are just some ideas for the future.  You can incorporate them into your life as you feel necessary.  You’re the parent.  With that responsibility comes a since of what’s write for your children.  You should know your children better than anyone else.

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Posted in My kids Health

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
There are two main types of breast cancer:

• Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
• Lobular carcinoma starts in parts of the breast, called lobules, that produce milk.

In rare cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast.
Breast cancer may be invasive or noninvasive. Invasive means it has spread to other tissues. Noninvasive means it has not yet spread. Noninvasive breast cancer is referred to as "in situ."

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or intraductal carcinoma, is breast cancer in the lining of the milk ducts that has not yet invaded nearby tissues. It may progress to invasive cancer if untreated.
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a marker for an increased risk of invasive cancer in the same or both breasts.

Many breast cancers are sensitive to the hormone estrogen. This means that estrogen causes the breast cancer tumor to grow. Such cancers have estrogen receptors on the surface of their cells. They are called estrogen receptor-positive cancer or ER-positive cancer.
Some women have what's called HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2 refers to a gene that helps cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cells -- including cancer cells -- grow faster. Experts think that women with HER2-positive breast cancer have a more aggressive disease and a higher risk of recurrence than those who do not have this type.

Causes

Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Risk factors you cannot change include:

• Age and gender -- Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. The majority of advanced breast cancer cases are found in women over age 50. Women are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than men.
• Family history of breast cancer -- You may also have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. About 20 - 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
• Genes -- Some people have genes that make them more prone to developing breast cancer. The most common gene defects are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes normally produce proteins that protect you from cancer. But if a parent passes you a defective gene, you have an increased risk for breast cancer. Women with one of these defects have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer sometime during their life.
• Menstrual cycle -- Women who get their periods early (before age 12) or went through menopause late (after age 55) have an increased risk for breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Alcohol use -- Drinking more than 1 - 2 glasses of alcohol a day may increase your risk for breast cancer.
• Childbirth -- Women who have never had children or who had them only after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces your risk of breast cancer.
• DES -- Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage may have an increased risk of breast cancer after age 40. This drug was given to the women in the 1940s - 1960s.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- You have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have received hormone replacement therapy for several years or more. Many women take HRT to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
• Obesity -- Obesity has been linked to breast cancer, although this link is controversial. The theory is that obese women produce more estrogen, which can fuel the development of breast cancer.
• Radiation -- If you received radiation therapy as a child or young adult to treat cancer of the chest area, you have a significantly higher risk for developing breast cancer. The younger you started such radiation and the higher the dose, the higher your risk -- especially if the radiation was given when a female was developing breasts.

Breast implants, using antiperspirants, and wearing underwire bras do not raise your risk for breast cancer. There is no evidence of a direct link between breast cancer and pesticides.
The National Cancer Institute provides an online tool to help you figure out your risk of breast cancer. See: www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool

 

Symptoms »

Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
• Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin of an orange
• Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and look like pus

Men get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.
Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include:

• Bone pain
• Breast pain or discomfort
• Skin ulcers
• Swelling of one arm (next to breast with cancer)
• Weight loss

 

Exams and Tests »

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and risk factors, and then perform a physical exam, which includes both breasts, armpits, and the neck and chest area. Additional tests may include:

• Mammography to help identify the breast lump
• Breast MRI to help better identify the breast lump
• Breast ultrasound to show whether the lump is solid or fluid-filled
• Breast biopsy, needle aspiration, or breast lump removal to remove all or part of the breast lump for closer examination by a laboratory specialist
• CT scan
• Sentinal lymph node biopsy
• PET scan

If your doctor learns that you do have breast cancer, additional tests will be done to see if the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up and gives you some idea of what to expect in the future.
Breast cancer stages range from 0 to IV. The higher the staging number, the more advanced the cancer.
In-Depth Diagnosis »

 

Treatment »

Treatment is based on many factors, including type and stage of the cancer, whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones, and whether or not the cancer overproduces (overexpresses) a gene called HER2/neu.
In general, cancer treatments may include:

• Chemotherapy medicines to kill cancer cells
• Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue
• Surgery to remove cancerous tissue -- a lumpectomy removes the breast lump; mastectomy removes all or part of the breast and possible nearby structures

Hormonal therapy is prescribed to women with ER-positive breast cancer to block certain hormones that fuel cancer growth.

• An example of hormonal therapy is the drug tamoxifen. This drug blocks the effects of estrogen, which can help breast cancer cells survive and grow. Most women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer benefit from this drug.
• Another class of medicines called aromatase inhibitors, such as exemestane (Aromasin), have been shown to work just as well or even better than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

Targeted therapy, also called biologic therapy, is a newer type of cancer treatment. This therapy uses special anticancer drugs that target certain changes in a cell that can lead to cancer. One such drug is trastuzumab (Herceptin). It may be used for women with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Cancer treatment may be local or systemic.

• Local treatments involve only the area of disease. Radiation and surgery are forms of local treatment.
• Systemic treatments affect the entire body. Chemotherapy is a type of systemic treatment.

Most women receive a combination of treatments. For women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer, the main goal is to treat the cancer and prevent it from returning. For women with stage IV cancer, the goal is to improve symptoms and help them live longer. In most cases, stage IV breast cancer cannot be cured.

• Stage 0 and DCIS -- Lumpectomy plus radiation or mastectomy is the standard treatment. There is some controversy on how best to treat DCIS.
• Stage I and II -- Lumpectomy plus radiation or mastectomy with some sort of lymph node removal is standard treatment. Hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and biologic therapy may also be recommended following surgery.
• Stage III -- Treatment involves surgery possibly followed by chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biologic therapy.
• Stage IV -- Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or a combination of such treatments.

After treatment, some women will continue to take medications such as tamoxifen for a period of time. All women will continue to have blood tests, mammograms, and other tests following treatment.
Women who have had a mastectomy may have reconstructive breast surgery, either at the same time as the mastectomy or later.

Support Groups

Talking about your disease and treatment with others who share common experiences and problems can be helpful. See: Cancer support group

Outlook (Prognosis)

New, improved treatments are helping persons with breast cancer live longer than ever before. However, even with treatment, breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Sometimes, cancer returns even after the entire tumor is removed and nearby lymph nodes are found to be cancer-free.
How well you do after being treated for breast cancer depends on many things. The more advanced your cancer, the poorer the outcome. Other factors used to determine the risk for recurrence and the likelihood of successful treatment include:

• Location of the tumor and how far it has spread
• Whether the tumor is hormone receptor-positive or -negative
• Tumor markers, such as HER2
• Gene expression
• Tumor size and shape
• Rate of cell division or how quickly the tumor is growing

After considering all of the above, your doctor can discuss your risk of having a recurrence of breast cancer.

Possible Complications

You may experience side effects or complications from cancer treatment. For example, radiation therapy may cause temporary swelling of the breast (lymphedema), and aches and pains around the area.
Lymphedema may start 6 to 8 weeks after surgery or after radiation treatment for cancer.
It can also start very slowly after your cancer treatment is over. You may not notice symptoms until 18 to 24 months after treatment. Sometimes it can take years to develop.
Ask your doctor about the side effects you may have during treatment.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider for an appointment if:

• You have a breast or armpit lump
• You have nipple discharge

Also call your health care provider if you develop symptoms after being treated for breast cancer, such as:

• Nipple discharge
• Rash on the breast
• New lumps in the breast
• Swelling in the area
• Pain, especially chest pain, abdominal pain, or bone pain

Prevention

Many risk factors -- such as your genes and family history -- cannot be controlled. However, a healthy diet and a few lifestyle changes may reduce your overall chance of cancer in general.
Breast cancer is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early.
Early detection involves:

• Breast self-exams (BSE)
• Clinical breast exams by a medical professional
• Screening mammography

Most experts recommend that women age 20 and older examine their breasts once a month during the week following the menstrual period.
Women between the ages 20 and 39 should have a doctor examine their breasts at least once every 3 years.
After age 40:

• Women 40 and older should have a mammogram every 1 - 2 years, depending on their risk factors. Women should call their doctor immediately if they notice in change in their breasts whether or not they do routine breast self-exams.
• Women 40 and older should have a complete breast exam by a health care provider every year.

Mammography is the most effective way of detecting breast cancer early.
Certain women at high risk for breast cancer may have a breast MRI along with their yearly mammogram. Ask your doctor if you need an MRI.
Screening for breast cancer is a topic filled with controversy. A woman needs to have an informed and balanced discussion with her doctor, along with doing additional reading and researching on her own, to determine if mammography is right for her.
Tamoxifen is approved for breast cancer prevention in women aged 35 and older who are at high risk.
Women at very high risk for breast cancer may consider preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of the breasts. Possible candidates for this procedure may include those who have already had one breast removed due to cancer, women with a strong family history of breast cancer, and persons with genes or genetic mutations that raise their risk of breast cancer.

References

Carlson RW, Allred DC, Anderson BO, Burstein HJ, Carter WB, Edge SB, et al. Breast cancer. Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw . 2009 Feb;7(2):122-92.
Chlebowski RT, Kuller LH, Prentice RL, Stefanick ML, Manson JE, Gass M, et al. Breast cancer after use of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med . 2009 Feb 5;360(6):573-87.
Hayes DF. Clinical practice. Follow-up of patients with early breast cancer. N Engl J Med . 2007;356(24): 2505-13.

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Posted in Cancers

Healthy weight-loss diet

A sensible rate of weight loss is around 0.5kg to 1kg (1lb to 2lb) a week. To achieve this, you need an energy deficit of 3,500kcal to 7,000kcal a week, which means eating 500 to 1,000 fewer calories a day.
You can do this by replacing high-fat foods with those that are low in fat such as fruit, vegetables, unrefined carbohydrates and lower-fat dairy products, and by being more physically active.
It's also important to watch the size of your portions. This can be difficult, because over time you can lose touch with what's a sensible amount of food.

Meat, fish and alternatives

Meat, fish, eggs and alternatives, such as beans and lentils, provide protein, which is essential for growth and repair. These protein-rich foods, meat in particular, are also good sources of iron, selenium, zinc and B vitamins.
Lean sources of protein can also help to curb your appetite. To help reduce the calories you get from fat, remove the skin from chicken, cut off obvious bits of fat from lamb, pork and beef, and use minimum oil for cooking.
Aim to eat two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines or trout.
You should have two portions of protein-rich foods every day. A portion is equivalent to:

• Meat and fish the size of a pack of playing cards
• Two eggs
• Four tablespoons of lentils or beans

Bread, cereals and potatoes

Starchy carbohydrate foods, such as bread, potatoes, rice and breakfast cereals, provide us with energy and other nutrients, including iron and B vitamins.
Starchy foods should make up about a third of your total daily energy intake.
Choose unrefined types that are higher in fibre. They'll make you feel full for longer and help to control hunger.
A balanced diet should contain about five portions of starchy foods each day. A portion is equivalent to:

• Three tablespoons of breakfast cereal
• One large slice of bread
• One chapatti
• Three heaped tablespoons of pasta
• Two egg-size potatoes
• Two heaped tablespoons of rice

Fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables provide essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and contain many other compounds associated with good health.
Everyone should aim to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in their diet.
Because fruit and vegetables are bulky and contain a lot of water, they can help to control your calorie intake. Aim for at least five portions a day.
A portion weighs about 80g and can include fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruit and vegetables. A portion is equivalent to:

• Two large tablespoons of vegetables, such as peas, carrots, swede or broccoli
• Whole fruits, such as one apple, one orange, one pear
• A handful of grapes
• Two tablespoons of strawberries or raspberries
• One small glass of fruit juice
• A handful of dried fruit

Milk and dairy foods

Foods such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are an important source of calcium as well as providing protein and vitamins. Choose low-fat or reduced-fat versions to reduce the amount of calories in your diet.
Aim for around three portions of dairy foods a day. A portion is equivalent to:

• A medium-size glass of milk
• A small pot of yoghurt
• A small matchbox-sized piece of cheese

Foods containing fat and/or sugar

Fatty and sugary foods, such as crisps, spreads, oils, creamy dressings, sweets, cakes, biscuits and chocolate, and sugar-rich drinks, including alcohol, are high in calories but relatively low in nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
Eating healthily means including foods that are packed with nutrients rather than packed with energy.
You should reduce your intake of these foods as much as possible. You can do this by:

• Swapping sugary and fatty snacks for fruit, diet yoghurt or a slice of wholemeal toast with reduced-fat spread
• Choosing water, reduced-fat milk or low-calorie drinks instead of sugar-rich drinks
• Using only a scraping of spread on your bread and using an oil spray to limit fat when cooking

Alcohol contains around 7 kcal per gram. As well as adding calories to your diet, it can stimulate the appetite and weaken your healthy eating intentions.
For more advice on cutting calories, see How to lose weight.

A word about salt

On average, we eat over 50 per cent more salt than the recommended level and more than twice the amount we actually need.
We've become used to eating foods containing salt, so reducing the amount we consume often means adjusting our palates.
A lot of salt comes from processed foods, so look for low-salt varieties and check the salt content on the label. You can also cut salt by:

• Preparing foods from fresh ingredients as much as possible
• Avoiding salty snacks, such as crisps and salted nuts
• Choosing 'unsalted', 'no added salt' or 'reduced salt' foods

This article was published in June 2007.

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Posted in Diet and Weight

Tips For Cold And Flu Prevention

It has been rightly said that precaution is better than cure. A healthy person takes early steps to prevent diseases, rather than relying on medicines to cure them later on. During certain parts of the year, flu viruses become active and can attack even the healthiest of people. At such a time, it is advisable to employ strategies to keep influenza at bay, for it can leave you feeling weak and inactive. The article comes up with some very effective and easy tip for cold and fly prevention. Go through them and know how to prevent cold and flu.

Tips For Cold And Flu Prevention

Wash Your Hands
Flu and cold mostly spread by direct contact. When a flu-affected person sneezes into his/her hands and then touches things like the telephone, kitchen glass or anything else, the germs can stay put on them for hours, sometimes, even days. In case you also touch them, the germs, and with them the flu, get transferred. So, keep washing your hands as often as you can. This way, not only do you stay away from the flu germs, but can also prevent spreading them further, in case you’re already affected.

Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Drinking plenty of water is the most effective way to release toxins from the body. Water detoxifies your system and re-hydrates you. It also effectively prevents cold and flu, especially lukewarm water is excellent for health. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to avoid the much dreaded influenza.

Take A Healthy Diet
There is nothing like a healthy diet to fight viruses and bacterial infections. A nutritious diet helps build immunity and beat flu and cold. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to strengthen your immunity system. Fruits rich in vitamin C, like guava, oranges, and grapes, are particularly good at fighting cold. A healthy diet, comprising of lean meats, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, provides your body the required nutrition to keep infection at bay.

Restrict Smoking & Drinking
There are reliable statistics to establish that heavy smokers and alcohol consumers are more prone to cold and flu. Too much of alcohol destroys the liver, which is the primary filtering system of the body, making it easier for germs to stay inside you for long. It also dehydrates the body. Same is the case with cigarettes as well. Excess smoking makes your immune system dysfunctional. If you can’t put an end to smoking and drinking, try to restrict their consumption.

Do Aerobics Regularly
Aerobic exercises are extremely beneficial in maintaining good health and avoiding flu. Aerobics speed up the heart and pump up larger quantities of blood, in turn facilitating an easier transfer of oxygen from your lungs to the blood, making you sweat when your body heats up. Such exercises also help activate the natural virus killing cells of your body,

Eat Yoghurt
Studies have shown that eating one cup of low-fat or fat-free yoghurt every day helps reduce your body's vulnerability to cold by 25%. Yoghurt contains bacteria that stimulate your immune system and allow it to function to its maximum ability. In short, eating yoghurt is an inexpensive and extremely effective way to keep cold and flu at bay.

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Posted in Health Tips

Treating Mild Acne

Mild acne consists of small lesions, such as blackheads, whiteheads or pustules, which appear at or near the surface of the skin. As such, mild cases of acne can sometimes be controlled at home by:

* Gently washing the affected area(s) with warm water and a mild soap twice a day to remove dead skin cells and excess oil
* Using a topical (applied to the skin) over-the-counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

At-home treatment requires 4-8 weeks to see improvement. Once acne clears, treatment must be continued to prevent new lesions from forming.

Even mild cases of acne may require the help of a dermatologist. If the acne does not respond to at-home treatment, a dermatologist can assess the situation and determine an appropriate therapy. In these cases, combination therapy (two or more treatments) may be used. Combination therapy may include use of a prescription topical antimicrobial or topical retinoid. These prescription topicals can be very effective in clearing mild acne.

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Posted in Acne Treatments

Diabetes and Pregnancy

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. When you are pregnant, too much glucose is not good for your baby. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, between three and eight get gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is diabetes that happens for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Gestational diabetes goes away when you have your baby, but it does increase your risjavascript:void(0)k for having diabetes later.

If you already have diabetes before you get pregnant, you need to monitor and control your blood sugar levels.

Either type of diabetes during pregnancy raises the risk of problems for the baby and the mother. To help reduce these risks, you should follow your meal plan, exercise, test your blood sugar and take your medicine.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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Posted in Diabetes

An Abdominal CT Scan

An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography.

How the Test is Performed

You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Usually, you will lie on your back with your arms raised above the head.

Certain exams require a special dye, called contrast, to be delivered into the body before the test starts. Contrast helps certain diseases and organs show up better on the images. Contrast can be given through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. In some cases, you may be asked to drink a solution containing the dye.

Once inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. Small detectors inside the scanner measure the amount of x-rays that make it through the abdomen. A computer takes this information and creates several individual images, called slices.

You must be still during the exam, because movement causes blurred images. You may be told to hold your breath for short periods of time.

The actual scan time only takes a few minutes, although the entire procedure usually takes much longer.
How to Prepare for the Test

If contrast is used, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4-6 hours before the test.

Before receiving the contrast, tell your health care provider if you take the diabetes medication metformin (Glucophage) because you may need to take extra precautions.

Some people have allergies to IV contrast and may need to take medications before their test in order to safely receive this substance.

If you weigh more than 300 pounds, have your doctor contact the scanner operator before the exam. CT scanners have a weight limit. Too much weight can cause damage to the scanner's working parts.

Since x-rays have difficulty passing through metal, you will be asked to remove jewelry and wear a hospital gown during the study.
How the Test Will Feel

Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table.

Contrast given through a vein (IV) may cause a slight burning sensation, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and usually go away within a few seconds.
Why the Test is Performed

An abdominal CT rapidly creates detailed pictures of the structures inside the belly area (abdomen).

Your doctor may order this test to:

* Determine the cause of abdominal pain or swelling
* Diagnose or monitor cancerous tumors
* Diagnose a hernia
* Determine the cause of a fever
* Identify masses and tumors, including cancer
* Look for damage after an injury
* Look for infections, kidney stones, or appendicitis

What Abnormal Results Mean

The abdominal CT scan may reveal certain cancers, including:

* Breast cancer
* Cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter
* Colon cancer
* Hepatocellular carcinoma
* Lymphoma
* Melanoma
* Ovarian cancer
* Pancreatic cancer
* Pheochromocytoma
* Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)
* Testicular cancer

The abdominal CT scan may show problems with the gallblader, liver, or pancreas, including:

* Acute cholecystitis
* Alcoholic liver disease
* Cholelithiasis
* Pancreatic abscess
* Pancreatic pseudocyst
* Pancreatitis
* Sclerosing cholangitis

The abdominal CT scan may reveal the following kidney problems:

* Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy
* Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy
* Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy
* Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy
* Complicated UTI (pyelonephritis)
* Kidney stones
* Kidney swelling (hydronephrosis)
* Kidney or ureter damage
* Polycystic kidney disease
* Uterocele

Abnormal results may also be due to:

* Abdominal aortic aneurysm
* Abscesses
* Appendicitis
* Bowel wall thickening
* Retroperitoneal fibrosis
* Renal artery stenosis
* Renal vein thrombosis

Risks

CT scans and other x-rays are strictly monitored and controlled to make sure they use the least amount of radiation. CT scans do create low levels of ionizing radiation, which has the potential to cause cancer and other defects. However, the risk associated with any individual scan is small. The risk increases as numerous additional studies are performed.

In some cases, a CT scan may still be done if the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. For example, it can be more risky not to have the exam, especially if your health care provider thinks you might have cancer.

The most common type of contrast given into a vein contains iodine. If a person with an iodine allergy is given this type of contrast, nausea or vomiting,sneezing, itching,or hives may occur. Let your doctor know if you have ever had an allergic reaction to injected contrast dye.

If you absolutely must be given such contrast, your doctor may choose to treat you with antihistamines (such as Benadryl) or steroids before the test.

The kidneys help filter the iodine out of the body. Therefore, those with kidney disease or diabetes should receive plenty of fluids after the test, and be closely monitored for kidney problems. If you have diabetes or are on kidney dialysis, talk to your health care provider before the test about your risks.

Rarely, the dye may cause a life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis. If you have any trouble breathing during the test, you should notify the scanner operator immediately. Scanners come with an intercom and speakers, so the operator can hear you at all times.
Considerations

A CT scan provides a better picture of internal organs than traditional x-rays. The benefits of an abdominal CT scan usually far outweigh the risks of radiation exposure.
Alternative Names

CT of the abdomen
References

Shaw AS, Dixon AK. Multidetector computed tomography. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 4.
Update Date: 11/21/2010

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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