new delhi when ramesh thakur 46 experienced intense pain in the abdomen last month he rushed to a big south delhi hospital the emergency physician who suspected kidney stones ordered a ct scan but because the radiologist missed an important segment of the abdominal region in the first scan thakur had to undergo the procedure twice the radiologist said it was important for correct diagnosis what he did not tell thakur was that he had been exposed to nearly 10 millisievert msv of radiation in the process prolonged or repeated exposure to radiation through any source is known to increase the risk of developing cancer top radiologists say advancement in diagnostic technology in the last 10 years has revolutionized early detection and treatment of diseases like cancer at the same time it has made people more vulnerable to radiation exposure as physicians ask for imaging tests including ct scans for the smallest of issues to rule out any serious complication in many cases surveys have revealed that financial incentives also play a role in the physicians prescription for tests and images many doctors insist on getting a ct scan or mri done from a particular diagnostic lab one should be careful said dr anil bansal a delhi medical council member research shows that computed tomography or ct emits radiation that is equal to 200 chest xrays it can damage body cells and predispose a person to cancer in rare cases ultrasound and mri do not cause any exposure to radiation according to dr t b s buxi chairperson department of ct and mri at sir ganga ram hospital children and pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing cancer on being exposed to radiation imaging involving radiation exposure should only be done when an xray or ultrasound is not helpful also there is new technology which ensures better imaging using low dosage he said dr harsh mahajan director mahajan imaging added that doctors should always weigh the risk and benefit of undergoing a procedure when there is a known side effect many diagnostic chains procure older equipment to cut cost but they emit higher amount of radiation so one should choose the right centre and ensure the radiologists are skilled enough to do the procedure properly in one go he said