Our 11-year-old daughter was just diagnosed with scoliosis. The doctor says it bears careful watching. This means repeated X-rays. We are concerned about the effect of too much X-ray exposure, especially in a developing girl. Is there any way around this?
Doctors share parents' concerns about the repeated exposure to ionizing radiation from X-rays. Right now the only way to see if the curve is getting worse is to take X-rays every year.
But researchers at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) have been doing studies using a new, noninvasive method to monitor scoliosis. It's called the Quantec system. It's a 3-D optical measurement system that takes scans of the back. After scanning, the data is analyzed and a Q-angle is calculated.
The Q-angle corresponds to the Cobb angle seen on X-rays. Early studies show this system is accurate enough to possible replace X-rays. More studies are needed to confirm these results before any changes are made in the standard protocol.
For now, you can let your doctor know about your concerns. Every effort is made to monitor the curve without excess radiation exposure. Treatment is based on the size of the curve and how fast it changes so this information is important.
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